metlife foundation national arts forum series

Past Forums

Arts & Business Council of New York, a division of Americans for the Arts
New York, New York

Corporate Social Responsibility: Are Arts on the Agenda?
11/14/2005

Moderator: Gary P. Steuer, Vice President, Private-Sector Affairs, Americans for the Arts

Panelists:

• John Carroll, Partner, Clifford Chance
• Charles Moore, Executive Director, Committee to Encourage Corporate Philanthropy
• Daniel J. Osheyack, Vice President, Marketing & Arts Development, Time Warner, Office of Corporate Responsibility
• Jo Maitland Wiess, Senior Vice President, Corporate Philanthropy, Lehman Brothers, Inc.

Business for Social Responsibility, a nonprofit organization promoting cross-sector collaboration and global efforts to advance the field of corporate social responsibility, defines Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) as “achieving commercial success in ways that honor ethical values and respect people, communities, and the natural environment. In its simplest terms it is: what you do, how you do it, and when and what you say.”

Moderator Gary Steuer observed that in everything he has been reading about CSR there is no mention of the arts. At a recent CSR conference in Washington, DC, neither the arts nor philanthropy was on the agenda. A survey conducted by the Committee to Encourage Corporate Philanthropy found that of the companies surveyed, the average percentage of a company’s giving budget to the arts was 6 percent. 

CSR is impacted by more than just local or regional factors. Mr. Steuer noted, “There is increasing focus on good governance, increasing globalization in business, needing to be sensitive to other cultures, and an increasing recognition of the negative economic and social impact of environmentally insensitive practices.” 

The panel represented corporations that are working very hard, each in its own way, to put the arts on the CSR agenda by making this a key funding area. John Carroll, of Clifford Chance, spoke about how the company’s approach to corporate philanthropy has become more proactive in recent years since it made a commitment to a CSR program. Clifford Chance is interested in using the arts to change its corporate culture. The company’s funding has changed the way they think of themselves as well as the public perception of them. Jo Maitland Weiss of Lehman Brothers discussed how Lehman Brothers considers each funding opportunity. Several criteria are considered: quality and excellence, because a good co-brand is a must; volunteer or board opportunities for employees; employee access and discounts; and exclusive, special opportunities to offer to its clients. She also reminded the audience that it’s important to keep corporations involved through corporate membership programs. Daniel J. Osheyack of Time Warner discussed ways in which that company is putting arts on the agenda by looking for funding opportunities that incorporate the arts with other areas, such as education. Charles Moore, of the Committee to Encourage Corporate Philanthropy, reiterated the need to put arts on the agenda when discussing corporate philanthropy. He pointed out that art organizations can be better served and better supported by corporations that are looking for in-kind donations, and cited that last year, over 60 percent of corporate giving was in the form of in-kind donations. 

At a time when the business world is focusing on CSR in an international context, the arts community must maintain its place in the forefront, and show to the corporate world how the arts can be successfully involved. Arts organizations need to be creative in thinking about funding and must think of a corporation not simply as a source of funding, but rather as a strategic partner.