BMW's 'Future Is Born Of Art' Empowers Young Artists Globally

Thomas Girst advocates for accessible art, corporate involvement, and supporting emerging artists. Girst is deeply critical of the exclusivity surrounding art, which he believes discourages broader engagement.

- MURTAZA ALI KHAN

At the heart of BMW's global cultural engagement is a philosophy that art should not be confined to elite circles but be accessible to all. Prof. Dr. Thomas Girst, Global Head of Cultural Engagement at BMW Group, is a passionate advocate for art's democratization. In an exclusive conversation with The Sunday Guardian, he spoke about corporate responsibility in the arts, BMW's long-standing commitment to supporting artists, the potential for greater cultural investment in India, and a book co-authored by Girst about Esther Mahlangu, a luminary South African artist who became the first woman and African artist to paint a BMW Art Car in 1991.

BMW has been a pioneer in integrating art and business, having supported hundreds of art initiatives worldwide for over 50 years. In India, the company is closely associated with the India Art Fair and the Kochi-Muziris Biennale. However, Girst suggested that there remains significant room for greater corporate involvement in the arts within the country. "India is the largest country on the planet by population, but the infrastructure for the arts has yet to fully align with its vast cultural potential. More companies need to actively engage in and support the arts," he stressed. When asked to comment upon the parallel between BMW's global cultural outreach and the Mahindra Group's efforts in India, Girst further emphasized that more corporations need to take up the cause of arts and culture. "It's about being a corporate citizen. It's about giving back to the society in which you do business," he asserted.