Assa O’Connor on what cultural activation looks like inside a live workplace

As organisations rethink workplace culture, more attention is being given to the environments people work in every day. Beyond policies and wellbeing programmes, there is growing interest in how physical spaces themselves can support connection, creativity and a sense of identity in simple, practical ways.

Last summer’s Creative Currents was created with this in mind, not as a traditional exhibition, but as a pilot project to explore how curated contemporary art could function inside a live working environment rather than a gallery. Delivered at 22 Bishopsgate in the heart of the City on the XCHG workspace floor, the project offered a real opportunity to observe how people experience culture within the rhythm of daily work.

Realities
One of the clearest lessons was that art in workplaces needs to adapt to the space, not the other way around. In a busy environment, movement patterns, sightlines and routines already exist. For art to feel natural, it has to work within these realities, supporting how the space is used rather than interrupting it.

The project also highlighted the importance of simplicity. Fewer artworks, thoughtful placement and minimal explanation made engagement feel easy and unforced. People could notice the work naturally as they moved through the space, without feeling they needed to stop, attend something formal, or set aside time.

Connection
Because Creative Currents was designed as a temporary pilot, it felt low risk for the host environment. This was important. Short term, flexible projects allow organisations to explore cultural initiatives without committing to permanent changes, while creating space for observation, feedback and learning.

Engagement unfolded differently from a gallery setting. Rather than one focused moment of attention, artworks were encountered in small moments, between meetings, while passing through shared areas, or over several days. This showed that in workplaces, connection often builds gradually through familiarity rather than through a single visit.

Depth and character
Ultimately, the pilot showed that what mattered most was not doing something big or spectacular, but how well the art fitted the space and the people using it. When cultural initiatives respect how a workplace functions, they can add depth and character without disrupting daily work.

Creative Currents was designed as a flexible programme rather than a one-off exhibition, a way to test how art can work in real business environments. The learning from the pilot is now shaping how my company develops future cultural activations tailored to the needs and character of each organisation.

Valuable
Delivering Creative Currents showed me that art in professional spaces isn’t a ‘nice to have’ wellbeing extra. It can actively drive connection and engagement, with clear lessons for cultural initiatives in corporate environments. As businesses continue to explore how culture fits into working life, this experience suggests that small, thoughtful experiments can be just as valuable as large scale projects.

Assa O’Connor is founder/director of Anomali Art
www.anomali-art.com