SITUATION/PROBLEM DESCRIPTION:
Bank BPH makes a part of the international group HVB, consolidating 9 banks from 8 European countries. Thinking about personnel integration, extending the knowledge about the Group as a whole and awareness of particular countries and companies composing the Group, and by that increasing employees' identification and involvement, the Group decided to realize project Europe in Art.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION/SOLUTION:
Europe in Art has a goal to integrate employees and promote the idea of elements of national cultures among the communities of those countries where the group is present. Employees choose works of art among the collections owned by companies in the Group, and presented on exhibitions in eight European countries including Poland.
In the first stage of the project, curators from particular countries chose in total 130 works of art owned by nine banks of the Group in eight European countries in such a way that art reflects the diversity of particular countries. The project assumed active participation of employees of the Group in choosing 100 works of art for the common collection. To this end the project required creating a website with picture of the works of art containing the description and information about the author. Thanks to that, 60,000 employees cast their votes on particular items and in that way they could personally decide about the content of the prospective exhibition.

Additionally, employees took part in preparing the inventory of the works of art and preparing information about particular items and their authors. They also took part in creating the website, running the information campaign, cooperating with cultural institutions etc. The works of art employees chose were transported to Hamburg where the exhibition began its tournee all over Europe. It was presented in Poland at the turn of January and February in Warsaw Królikarnia Palace.

The exhibition's description was placed in the catalogue published in English, German and a national language. Furthermore, each city hosting the exhibition organised an elegant first night where the guests were employees of the Group, clients of the banks and local community. The entrance to the exhibition is free of charge, and the income generated through the sales of catalogues and supplements is transferred to the institution where the exhibition is presented.
In order to coordinate the exhibition, the company set up a post of the curator, the person who is entirely responsible for the exhibition and organisation of the program.

BENEFITS:

• Integration of employees;
  Marketing success and high profile of the exhibition in the media, which contributed to creating the image of HVB Group as active in cultural enterprises and supporting promotion of art;
• Maintaining positive relationships with clients and partners of the Bank;

CHALLENGES:

• Organisational matters (transportation, conservation, insurance);
• Coordination of the program in all the companies at the same time.

WORTH REMEMBERING:

• Elaborating details, tuning the time schedule;
• Communication between employees, they get more involved;
• It is worth investing in efficient organisation which often has impact on the entire project.