Bishop’s arts students soar in New Brunswick at the Business of the Arts Competition 

By Matéo Cambolive – Contributor

On Friday, Oct. 20, a quartet of arts administration students from Bishop’s University boarded a plane, embarking on a  journey bound for Mount Allison in New Brunswick. Their mission: to deliver a distinctive, business-centric pitch before a panel of judges, as an integral part of the annually conducted Business of the Arts Competition. On Sunday, they presented and won with an innovative arts-focused business concept – Art-Quarium – glass musical studios encircling a coffee shop.  I was lucky enough to be one of those students on the team.

The unearthing of this project was serendipitous, stemming from an incidental remark by Prof. Esther Charron to students in the arts administration program upon my return to Lennoxville for the semester. Intrigued by the allure of prizes and the prospect of a weekend in New Brunswick, I promptly enlisted, anticipating an enriching learning encounter that would indelibly mark my tenure at Bishop’s. 

 The unfolding of the weekend transpired seamlessly under the guidance of our official agent and paparazzi but most importantly as our experiential learning coordinator, Bassam Chiblak, as we embarked on our journey to Mount Allison University in Sackville, NB, the esteemed hosts of the competition. A panel discussion featured insights from Troy D’Ambrosio of the University of Utah. The subsequent day centered around meticulously crafting our pitch and refining our business concept through engaging workshops and seminars, affording ample opportunities for networking with our counterparts from Mount Allison. 

We presented Art-Quarium before a discerning panel of judges.  Our collective endeavor in conceiving Art-Quarium was marked by a process of trial and error, culminating in a tangible project. Envisioned as a musical nexus with glassed studios enveloping a central coffee shop, it aspired to redefine artistic and musical paradigms in Sherbrooke and the Eastern Townships. 

 Beyond the pleasurable facets of the weekend, clinching victory in the competition made an impact on our team, fostering a palpable sense of camaraderie and resilience amidst the challenges of navigating a new milieu while working on an unfamiliar project within stringent time constraints. This experience served as a crucible for refining our adeptness in rapid decision-making, critical thinking and quick-thinking skills. 

 Panning beyond the confines of our team, the broader import of participating in such competitions became apparent. With the burgeoning recognition in the arts, these contests emerge as invaluable instruments for budding entrepreneurs to apply skills they acquired in the classroom. They forge connections, engage with diverse learning methodologies and, above all, revel in the process. 

The team extends heartfelt appreciation to all those at Bishop’s and Mount Allison who facilitated this unique opportunity. A special acknowledgement is reserved for my dedicated team members, whose unwavering commitment brought out the best in each other throughout this enriching experience.