Art and the Convention Center

June 7, 2015

Lisa Apolinski

Lisa Apolinski is a professional speaker, blogger, and digital strategist. With her company, 3DogWrite.com, she works with event managers to get their message to attendees, particularly through digital channels, on and off the show floor.

We all have considered having meeting and events in art and museum galleries, both of which provide a unique atmosphere and exposure to art and culture. 

What has been most notable in recent years is the addition of art into the convention center.  This investment, which is rather substantial, is focused around the attendee experience of the destination while in the venue. 

And there are a few convention centers that have done this remarkably well.

Phoenix Convention Center:  With approximately $3 million in art installed, the Phoenix Convention Center uses art to help bring the beauty of the southwest within the design. The art is a homage to the native environment, and visitors can plan an Artwork Tour while onsite.

Colorado Convention Center:  A 1988 city executive order directs 1 percent of a capital improvement project over $1 million to be set aside for the inclusion of art in the design.  That allows the city to provide art in public places, and support local artists in the process. 

Hawaii Convention Center:  The Hawaii Convention Center utilizes both the indoor and outdoor spaces to bring native Hawaiian art to visitors and locals alike. The art pays tribute to Hawaiian culture and influences, and embodies the spirit of aloha within this destination.

You may be rushing from meeting to show floor to meeting, but take a few minutes out to experience the art installations and get a visual representation of the location’s history and culture. 

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Partner Voices
Dallas already boasts 35,000 hotel rooms, award-winning global cuisine, and a walkable downtown. But we are just getting started. Visit Dallas is thrilled to announce that the city of Dallas is doubling down with a massive new convention center and entertainment district. Featuring 800,000 square feet of exhibit area, 260,000 square feet of meeting rooms, and 170,000 square feet of ballroom. The center will connect business travelers with dining and shopping options in the popular Cedars District means more places to get down to business, and even more ways to unwind. “Dallas is already a great meetings and conventions destination, with the accessibility of two major airports, affordable labor, and an outstanding hotel product,” said D. Bradley Kent, Visit Dallas senior vice president and chief sales officer. “The new center and Convention Center District will enhance Dallas’ competitive position and are exactly what our customers’ need and have been asking for." What’s New – AT&T Discovery District Located in the heart of Downtown Dallas, this new district on the AT&T corporate campus is tailor-made for groups of all sizes. It boasts a multi-sensory experience, including outdoor event space, the AT&T Theater, and multiple dining outlets including JAXON Beer Garden and The Exchange, a bustling food hall. Hotels Coming Soon Names like the JW Marriott (Downtown), lnterContinental Dallas (Uptown), and Hotel Swexan (Uptown) are adding luxury amenities and bountiful event spaces. The projects will debut in 2023 and beyond. JW Marriott This new, 15-story, 283-room hotel will open in the heart of the city’s downtown Arts District this year. The property features a 25,000-square-foot grand ballroom, as well as a spa, restaurant, lobby bar, fitness center, and a rooftop pool deck and bar. InterContinental Dallas  Located in Cityplace Tower in Uptown, InterContinental Dallas will feature sweeping panoramic views of the Dallas skyline. Guests will enjoy spacious, high-end rooms and amenities, including more than 21,000 square feet of event space.   Hotel Swexan Hotel Swexan, a new, 22-story luxury property, is rising in Uptown’s Harwood District and will make its mark on the Dallas skyline. Opening this year, it is a sculptural building with cantilevered upper floors, as well as a 75-foot rooftop infinity-edge swimming pool and a hidden underground lounge.