Module 5.1 Reading
Read about a company that deals with art in the workplace. Complete the information with answers A, B, C or D.
International Art Consultant
(1) _____ in 1979, International Art Consultants has been sourcing and commissioning art (2) ______ for over 25 years. We work (3)______ clients in the corporate, hotel, healthcare and urban regeneration (4)_______. Our clients (5)______ from multinational companies with £1 million art budgets to organizations renting art for just £10 a week. A (6)______ of fourteen, we are small enough to care and large enough to cope.
We offer a (7)______ combination of commercial experience, specialist art knowledge and high quality service and support. Whatever the size of the project our (8)______ is for all our clients to be 100% satisfied with the end result. Over 75% of our work comes from (9)______ business or referrals.
We work alongside professional artists who create art of the highest artistic and technical quality, and (10)_____ our staff have different areas of specialist art knowledge and expertise. We hope that you will (11)______ an appointment to visit us, look round the galleries, use the visual reference databases, and discuss your particular art (12)______ with us.
1. A. Founded B. Set C. Since D. Last
2. A. international B. worldwide C. all D. around
3. A. as B. in C. under D. with
4. A. divisions B. industries C. sectors D. sections
5. A. range B. report C. buy D. supply
6. A. department B. building C. unit D. team
7. A. original B. mix C. brand D. unique
8. A. scope B. aim C. outcome D. line
9. A. new B. rental C. reply D. repeat
10. A. few B. all C. more D. any
11. A. make B. do C. have D. attend
12. A. insure B. objectives C. requirements D. paintings
Module 5.1 Listening 1
There are five main stages for an art consultant in charge of supplying artworks. The following stages are in the wrong order. Work in pairs and number the stages 1 to 5. Listen to the first part of an interview with an art consultant and check your answers.对于一个负责提供艺术品的艺术顾问来说，有五个主要的阶段。以下阶段的顺序是错误的。两人一组，将第1至第5阶段编号。请听艺术顾问的第一部分，并核对你的答案。
Draw up selection of possible art works. 3
草拟可能的艺术作品。
Installation. 5
装置艺术
Select or commission artworks. 4
选择或委托艺术品
Art consultant makes initial visit. 1
艺术顾问初访
Present possible choices to client. 2
向顾客提供可能的选择
I=interviewer AC=Art consultant
I: I’d like to begin by asking you to imagine that I’ve been asked to find some art for my company’s office. Where would I start?
AC: Well, the first stage in selecting art is normally for one of our art consultants to visit you on site to assess the location, the size of the area and the style of the building and so on.
I: How much difference does it make where I actually put the paintings?
AC: A great deal. Art needs to be placed taking into account the function of a space. Different types of art are appropriate for different areas. Once we have an idea about what kind of work it is you do and how the space is used, then be begin to find artworks and present a selection of art for your business and building. We can do this on-site or you can visit our galleries. The whole thing is a two-way collaborative process.
I: So you already have the painting?
AC: Yes, or we can ask an artist to create works for your specific space. In this case, the client has some input but it’s important to remember when choosing workplace art that art is not your brand. If you ask the artist to emphasizes your company image in some way, you’ll just end up with bad art. Either way, you have an art consultant who oversees and project manages the production of any commissioned artwork and makes sure it’s completed and installed on time and within budget. And that also includes fitting appropriate lighting and any other maintenance and fitting.
Module 5.1 Listening 2
Listen to the second part of the interview. Does the consultant normally recommend traditional or modern artworks for companies? Why?请听面试的第二部分。顾问一般会向公司推荐传统或现代的艺术品吗?为什么?
Overall, the speaker seems to be suggesting that modern artworks are a better choice to show you are a modern company and ‘planning for the future’. Traditional artworks say that a company is old or lacks new ideas.
总的来说，说话者似乎在暗示，现代艺术作品是一个更好的选择，来表明你是一个现代公司和“对未来的规划”。传统的艺术作品说的是一个公司很老或者缺乏新的想法。
I=Interviewer AC=Art consultant
I: One thing I don’t understand is how a company ever decides what to choose. I mean, art is such a personal thing. How does anyone ever agree?
AC: Well, that’s true. I think it’s important that you don’t set up committees or anything. If you have a workforce of 300 and you ask everyone, you’ll get 300 different answers. No, you need to keep it small. Just one or two people. But choosing art for your offices isn’t necessarily about choosing what the individual likes. The real benefits for a business are that the artwork gives a positive image to clients.
I: So what’s a typical type of art?
AC: It’s over varied but in general I suggest something strong and bold. If it’s just light colors that no one can really see, it’s pointless. You need art which shows your clients you have good taste and that you are successful.
I: I often go into buildings and look at modern art and thin, ‘What is that? It isn’t of anything. No people. Nothing.’ Why do so many companies choose it?
AC: There are a number of reasons, other than the fact that the managing director might like it. You don’t want art that will offend anyone. So a painting of a man and woman with on clothes on is a bad idea. Similarly, a landscape or a painting of the countryside is the sort of thing you have in your living room at home and doesn’t look very corporate. Also the art needs to say what kind of company you are. Most companies want to give clients the message that says we’re modern and we’re planning for the future. A classical painting says we’re old and traditional. A painting by a young modern painter gives a more positive image. And remember, it doesn’t have to be a painting. A sculpture in the reception area can be very effective, for example.
I: Finally, all this must be very expensive. How does a company justify thousands of pounds on this kind of thing?
AC: It can be expensive but of course many people rent works from us --- for as little as ten pounds a week. It also means that if you change your mind after a year or so, it’s easy to change the piece.
I: That sounds like a good idea…
Module 5.1 Listening 3
Listen again to both parts of the interview. Choose the best answer (A, B or C) for questions 1---6.再听一遍面试的两个部分。选择问题1- 6的最佳答案(A, B或C)。
1) If you are interested in having art in your workplace, the best thing to do is to
A. ask an art consultant to visit the premises.
B. look at where you want to put the paintings and decide how many you need for the size of the building.
C. decide what type of art you like.
2) The art is usually chosen
A. by the specialist B. by the client C. with both sides in agreement
3) With a specially commissioned work of art, it’s best that you let
A. the consultant tell the artist what you want.
B. the artist know what you want.
C. the artist make most of the decisions.
4) The consultant believes that choosing art for the workplace is about
A. everyone agreeing on what they like.
B. having something nice to look at.
C. letting people know what kind of company you are.
5) Why do most companies choose contemporary or modern art?
A. Because people don’t like traditional art.
B. Because people don’t know if it’s good or bad.
C. Because it sends out a certain message about the company.
6) What does the interviewer think is a good idea?
A. To rent the art. B. To buy the art. C. To regularly change the art.