When Your Team Needs More Than Another WorkshopGuided art conversations that reset dynamics and spark fresh thinking
Business ArtTalks for Your Company
New settings stimulate different conversations. Business ArtTalks offer firms, agencies and affiliated groups a distinctive alternative to classic team or networking events. In museum spaces, people step out of routines and into guided dialogue shaped by art, observation, and lively exchange.
Led by art historian (UC Berkeley) and certified ICF coach Karla Schlaepfer, Business ArtTalks combine cultural expertise with a coaching-inspired and Design Thinking-informed facilitation style. Professional, engaging, and accessible.
No Art Background Needed. Seriously.
These experiences are designed for business professionals, not art experts. The focus is on conversation, connection, and fresh perspectives -not art history lectures. You don’t need to know anything about art to participate fully or benefit deeply.
How it works: We discuss your team’s needs and goals in a brief call, then design a tailored 60-90 minute museum experience (exact timing flexible).
Not sure which format fits your situation? Let’s figure it out together.
Why Art Works Where Conference Rooms Don’t
Art creates necessary distance. It disrupts familiar thinking patterns and loosens hierarchical dynamics. When people look at art together, they practice skills central to collaboration: observing without immediate judgment, listening to different interpretations, building on others’ perspectives.
Business ArtTalks are especially well suited for:
Team offsites or resets when you need more than a PowerPoint and breakout rooms
Leadership gatherings where the usual meeting dynamics aren’t producing results
Client or partner events that need to feel personal, inspirational not transactional
International or cross-functional teams navigating different communication styles
Corporate milestones worth marking with something extraordinary and meaningful
The museum becomes a neutral ground where status matters less than curiosity. Conversations become less guarded, more exploratory.
What ArtTalks Participants Say
„Karla Schlaepfer schafft von Anfang an eine sehr vertrauensvolle Atmosphäre. Es ist ihr mit ihrem ArtTalks Seminar gelungen, das anspruchsvolle Thema witzig und motivierend zu vermitteln und den Teilnehmern sehr praxisnahe Werkzeuge zur Verfügung zu stellen. Sie zeigte die Kunst der spielerischen Reflexion, die sowohl psychologische als auch philosophische Aspekte einbezog.“
“After a short time, you feel included. Even when people don’t know each other well, real conversations emerge.“
Christopf Kellerwessel, Senior Engineer, Automotive
How We Tailor Each Session to Your Specific Needs
Small groups (max. 15 participants) for meaningful exchange
Structured, dialogic facilitation rooted in questioning, not telling
Coaching-inspired methods that invite reflection
English or German sessions
25+ years experience facilitating teams, offering public ArtTalks since 2008 in Bonn’s Bundeskunsthalle, Wuppertal, and now exclusively in Cologne museums.
Each ArtTalk is prepared individually and adapted to your business, group, context, and occasion. Karla Schlaepfer can shape the ArtTalks to serve your purpose, not the other way around.
Match Your Challenge to the Right Format
Team ArtTalk
Reset dynamics. Integrate new members. Think together differently.
A shared museum experience that supports dialogue, reflection, and connection within teams. Useful when teams need to reset dynamics, integrate new members, or simply think together differently with a boost of fresh visual input.
For teams navigating change, onboarding new leadership, or stuck in unproductive patterns
Client or Partner ArtTalk
Create memorable experiences. Build genuine connection. Stand out.
Art as a natural conversation starter beyond small talk. Ideal for client or partner events where genuine exchange matters more than transactional networking. The world-famous Museum Ludwig provides an attractive and exclusive setting for inspiring conversations.
For client appreciation, partner relationship building, or events that need to feel distinctive
Leadership Reflection ArtTalk
Pause. Process complexity. Align on what matters.
For leadership teams who want to pause, observe, and think together in a new context. Particularly valuable during transitions, strategic shifts, or when teams need space to process complexity. See ArtTalk Specials for more variation on Coaching and Creativity.
For leadership teams facing strategic shifts, major decisions, or needing perspective during transitions
Innovation ArtTalk
Reframe questions. Explore new angles. Generate fresh ideas.
Where suitable, ArtTalks can be designed as Design Thinking-inspired formats. Art becomes a structured stimulus for reframing questions, exploring perspectives, and developing creative ideas. Works well for innovation workshops, team brainstorming sessions, or visual learning journeys.
For innovation projects, brainstorming sessions, or teams needing creative problem-solving approaches
Not sure which format fits your situation? Let’s figure it out together.
FAQ
Are these Business ArtTalks events suitable for people without art knowledge?
Yes. ArtTalks are designed for curiosity, not expertise. The focus is on looking and thinking together, not art history knowledge.
Is this a training or workshop?
ArtTalks are guided conversations by default, focused on shared observation and dialogue. However, they can also be designed as Design Thinking-inspired formats with clear outcomes: insights, frameworks, or boosts to get ideas for prototypes.
Can the ArtTalk reflect our business, company or occasion?
Yes. Each ArtTalk is tailored to your context. Themes such as innovation, leadership, change, or collaboration can be woven into the experience through careful selection of artworks and guiding questions.
Are Business ArtTalks suitable for international teams?
Absolutely. Sessions are available in English or German. The visual nature of art makes it particularly effective across language and cultural backgrounds. Karla is versed in intercultural communication.
Where do Business ArtTalks take place?
In selected museums in Cologne, including world famous Museum Ludwig, Wallraf-Richartz and Rautenstrauch-Joest Museum. Karla Schlaepfer has been leading museum-based dialogues since 2008, first in Bonn’s Bundeskunsthalle and Wuppertal, and now works exclusively with Cologne institutions.
Curious if an ArtTalk is right for your team or clients?
Let’s explore what fits your occasion!
Let’s discuss your ArtTalk (15–20 minutes, no obligation)