Art and Entrepreneurship at MSM: MSM hosts MKB Limburg | Business Club Limburg at TEFAF 2017

This year is the 30th edition of TEFAF, one of the world’s most prestigious art fairs. MSM teamed up with MKB Limburg, a network organisation for SMEs in Limburg, to host the MKB-Limburg | Business Club Limburg @ TEFAF 2017 where over a hundred regional business people came to MSM and TEFAF to be inspired.

Monique Princen, chair of MKB Limburg and MSM professor Arnoud Franken welcomed the attendees.

Ger Koopmans, Provincial Minister for Finance, Sport and Culture in Limburg, opened the meeting explaining how important the arts are to attract and retain talents for the Netherlands and the province.

Stijn Huijts, director of the Maastricht based Bonnefanten Museum continued explaining why an enterprising spirit is becoming more important to the cultural sector. While not “owning” the museum, he shared that also he has to act as an entrepreneur, for example to ensure that the museum will have sufficiently funds to acquire art, to cover operating costs, but also to invest in new technology that can make a museum visit an exciting experience.

Entrepreneur Rob Meesen took the audience through a fast-paced visual slide-deck highlighting how entrepreneurs can take inspiration from artworks.

Finally MSM’s Wynand Bodewes shared his insights on the virtues of Design Thinking for product and service delivery. He used a stroller from Maastricht based Greentom to illustrate how one can build on Design Thinking and innovate valuable solutions that have a clear edge. For most guests, it was their first visit to MSM and TEFAF. MSM is a member of MKB Limburg and that means that students, our regional SMEs and we will continue to co-create value.

Click here for a short video summary of this event:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6Ow9GnPBZs&feature=youtu.be