Independent Banker - June 2023 - 63

Next: What's in ICBA's Compliance Vault? 
Lidgett says. " Think of the number
of people who go through a branch
on a daily basis ... It's really exciting
to these artists that many people get
to see their work. "
" When a community has wonderful art,
and many cultures are represented,
that's what makes them fabulous places
to live and work. As a community bank,
we want to be a part of that. "
-EMILY ABBAS, BANKERS TRUST
Before the paintings are delivered
to Bankers Trust's branches,
both staff and customers have an
opportunity to see all 12 pieces of art
in one place and meet the artists at
the opening reception. Whether it's
a landscape painting, watercolor or
even translated dance movements,
the artists give speeches about the
pieces they created.
the artists that are chosen. "
The gallery started with a
suggestion from a customer back in
2015: What if Bankers Trust hosted a
small gallery for local artists in one of
its branches? That plan wasn't quite
right for the bank, but it did spark the
idea of creating a rotating gallery of
local artists' works.
Bankers Trust had multiple goals
for what it wanted the galleries to
accomplish. By uplifting the arts, it
helped connect cultures, celebrate
diversity and express its values as an
organization. To help achieve that,
QUICK STAT
12
The number of
artists represented in
each gallery hosted by
Bankers Trust
the bank worked with Liz Lidgett, a
client of Bankers Trust and owner of
Liz Lidgett Gallery and Design in Des
Moines, to develop a list of what they
considered the best of the best local
artists for the gallery.
" We wanted the artists to represent
the people that Bankers Trust
works with, " Lidgett says. " So that
means a variety of backgrounds,
both with their heritage [and] with
their ethnicity. "
In addition, the galleries have hosted
work from college professors, veterans
and refugees, among others. As one of
its main goals, the bank aims to have
a diverse collection, with artists from
a variety of different backgrounds.
A flexible space
The collection isn't a typical museum
or gallery space, Lidgett says. It
provides many more opportunities for
artists to have their work seen.
" A corporate collection is an unsung
hero in the art world, because a huge
number of eyes get to see the artwork
on a daily basis, live with it, find
new things in it as it moves around, "
Customers are also invited to
vote on their favorite piece, and
the winning artist is invited to
participate in the next gallery.
For both previous galleries, artist
James Navarro was selected as the
customer favorite.
" It sparks great conversation
about the importance of supporting
artists, " Abbas says.
Long-term commitment
The gallery has been loved by
the artists, bank and customers
alike. Bankers Trust is dedicated
to making this a long-term
commitment and is planning the
next one for 2025. By providing
a space where artists can gain
more visibility, the gallery benefits
not only the participants but the
community as a whole.
" When a community has
wonderful art and many cultures are
represented, that's what makes them
fabulous places to live and work. As
a community bank, we want to be a
part of that, " Abbas says.
" We want to help lift up those
organizations and those artists,
because that's what makes our
community very special. " 
Tiffany Lukk is managing editor of
Independent Banker.
independentbanker.org // 63
http://www.independentbanker.org
Independent Banker - June 2023

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