The Master of Art

              It was a beautiful weekend, perfect for the 35^th Annual Festival of the Masters event at Walt Disney World.  I have worked for Disney for almost 14 years and yet, I have never attended this event.  This year I decided it was time to go because the event was benefiting The Red Chair Project, an Arts organization that is near and dear to my heart.

The festival takes place at Downtown Disney Westside and features amazing art from top artists.  Artwork mediums include photography, glasswork, paintings, sculptures, prints, drawings, jewelry, leather & wood, mixed media and collage, as well as Digital.   Artists must have been a primary award winner in a juried art show or festival within the last four years to qualify to show at the festival.  Because of this exclusitivity, it has become one of the most sought after art festivals in the country. 

There was an abundance of creativity at this event so I was compelled to write about it on my blog.  The House of Blues displayed an array of Folk Art that was earthy and many interesting pieces caught my eye.  The Central Florida Chalk Artist Association was there in full force.  They decorated the sidewalks with amazing chalk art.  I even bumped into some of the cast members from Cirque du Soleil.  They were out meeting and greeting in the face painting and balloon animal area.  The kids had their own creative space near the LEGO store.  A LEGO master builder was out helping the kids with building their own amazing LEGO art.

The biggest surprise of my day was the opportunity to get a first glimpse of Epic Mickey, a new Disney Interactive online game.  The game is set to launch to the public at the end of this month.  It has the potential of becoming a huge hit for the company.

It was an event that was well-organized, creative, fun, entertaining, and best of all showcased some amazing art for a wonderful charity.  I will definitely make it a priority to attend again next year! 

Developing a Creative Team

Entertainment companies are continually looking for new ways to improve business results and profitability.  A strong team is required to deliver the results necessary to achieve these goals.  Recently, I have been researching team development and the qualities needed for my own company.  The three most important qualities required to work for my organization are leadership, innovation, and communication.  Determining these qualities have been an interesting process that I would like to share with you. 

The most important quality I require for my team is leadership.  All senior members of my team must be strong leaders.  They need to motivate others to reach the goals of the company.  Leaders will be empowered to make decisions about how to best serve the customers.  This builds trust and motivates them to produce quality work.  Each member should also share the values of the organization.  These values include honesty, integrity, diversity, openness, courage, balance, and respect.  A strong leadership team with common values is essential to the future success of my organization.

For my company, it is important to create a culture of innovation.  Creativity is an essential asset for each of my team members.  My creative company would not work without highly creative individuals.  The team needs to develop compelling entertainment that captures the attention of our customers.  In addition, we need to be innovative in our thinking of the business.  How can we create quality content while keeping our costs low?  It requires a team that is creative in developing new ideas for both business and content. 

Communication is also an important factor for me as I develop a winning team.  It is imperative for employees to be open and communicate their ideas and thoughts to the overall team.  A healthy debate is good for the organization and I want my company to have the tough conversations necessary to move us forward. Each member will also need the skills necessary to effectively present their ideas clearly and concisely.  

A strong team is so important to the success of any organization.  One person cannot do it all by themselves.  Careful consideration is required when developing a team.  For me, each candidate must have strong leadership skills, embrace a culture of innovation, and be effective communicators.  I believe these qualities are the recipe for a winning team.

References:

Retrieved from:  http://www.learningcenter.net/library/communicate.shtml

Retrieved from:  http://humanresources.about.com/od/involvementteams/a/twelve_tip_team.htm

Retrieved from:  http://www.entrepreneur.com/growyourbusiness/howtoguides/article83618.html