Walk into many modern offices today, and the environment often features minimal décor—standard white walls and generic posters promoting values like “teamwork” and “innovation.” But imagine if those walls reflected each employee’s story, their culture, and what they hope for the future.
The CaixaBank Tech team found something special when they let their diverse workers pick up paintbrushes. What started as a routine office makeover turned into a great movement that changed how companies think about diversity, equity, and inclusion. Now, their colourful walls remind everyone that every voice counts, every culture matters, and every viewpoint adds something valuable to their workplace.
Art as a Universal Language
When employees take part in art projects together, it fosters genuine connection, creativity, and shared purpose. The usual office vibes change, and real connections start forming. Unlike regular diversity workshops that focus a lot on talking and theory, art activities, whether in the UAE or anywhere else, create shared experiences that highlight our common humanity.
Collaborative art projects have a few key benefits:
- Building Bridges: Artists from different backgrounds share their techniques, stories, and viewpoints.
- Inclusive Participation: Art welcomes all skill levels and ways of expressing.
- Lasting Impact: The completed artwork is a permanent reminder of what everyone achieved together.
- Emotional Bonding: Getting creative helps foster empathy and understanding.
Why Does This Work?
When people get together to do creative activities, they start to open up and build trust with each other. This shared experience can really help team bonding and makes art projects great for promoting diversity and inclusion. These types of community activities in UAE have gained momentum for encouraging employee connection in meaningful ways.
CaixaBank’s Transformative Vision
The Smart Project came from the team at CaixaBank Tech, showing how banks can change workplace culture with creative community activities. The UAE, with its diverse workforce, is a great place for this kind of thing.
The Goal: Build a workplace that represents everyone’s values and experiences while also making a positive social impact that aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
The Execution: CaixaBank Tech team members donned masks, picked up brushes, and transformed their office walls and cabins into collaborative masterpieces. It was more than just decorating; it was about letting everyone’s voice shine through in a visual way.
Bringing DE&I to Life Through Collaborative Art
- Foundation Setting: Start by getting leadership on board and setting clear goals. Establish how the artistic initiative aligns with broader DE&I goals and business outcomes.
- Getting the Community Involved: Bring employees into the idea-making process. Ask them about their backgrounds, artistic tastes, and what they want to see in the project.
- Creative Collaboration: Work with local artists or art therapists to help guide the project. Keep things inclusive and make sure to honour different artistic styles.
- Reflection and Integration: Keep track of the process, celebrate what you all created, and make sure to use what you learnt for future DE&I efforts.
The Canvas of Tomorrow
At Companies for Good, we believe diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) efforts should go beyond checklists—they should be lived, felt, and seen. That’s why we create art-based DE&I programs that mix creativity with a purpose, helping organisations all over the UAE to foster more inclusive and people-centred cultures.
We focus on creating art-based DE&I programs that:
- Align with your company’s values and UN SDG goals.
- Make a real impact on workplace culture.
- Create visual reminders of what you’ve accomplished together.
Our programs often include community activities in UAE that combine art, culture, and shared values to create long-lasting impact.
We collaborate closely with your leadership to create artistic experiences that reflect your company’s vibe while promoting empathy and inclusion. Whether through workshops or team art projects, these activities can change the way your space feels and how team members see one another.
We’re here to help from start to finish and keep track of the results.
If you’re ready to bring your team together through creativity, visit Companies for Good. We’ll help you design a program that reflects your values and builds real connection.
Let’s paint a more inclusive future—one brushstroke at a time.