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YourGuidetoAmericanAirlines
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96 AMERICANWAY
OCTOBER 1 2008
It’s interesting that anairline isso committed to
bringing color to our lives. But that is precisely
what American Airlines attempts to do through
its long-standing support of thearts.
American Airlines is closely linked to many
arts organizations and events around the coun-
try, including the Lyric Opera in Chicago, the
Lincoln Center Theater in New York, theMiami
International FilmFestival, and thePacificSym-
phony inSouthernCalifornia. Americanbelieves
that an investment in the arts is an investment
in the communities we serve, our customers,
andour employees.
One of American’s more notable arts ven-
tures is in theDallas–FortWortharea,where for
many years, we have been a member of North
TexasBusiness forCultureand theArts (NTBCA),
anonprofit arts-advocacyorganization that con-
nects North Texas companies with local arts
agencies and artists in order to showcase their
art, improve the community’s quality of life, and
foster economicdevelopment.
“Artists are critical to building an important
cultural environment and a great visual com-
munity, just asmusiciansare critical tobuilding
a great symphony and actors are to building a
great theater,” saysPat Porter, NTBCA’sexecu-
tivedirector. “A strong cultural base isessential
to attracting and keeping businesses and the
brightestminds inour region.”
American supports two signature programs
OnMyOwnTimeArtShow
For the On My Own Time employee art show,
now in its 10th year at American, employees,
retirees, and their spousessubmit their original
art for judging by art professionals. This year,
nearly 300 entries were received, with the art
put ondisplay at American’sheadquarters.
The show featured several categories of art,
including photography, computer art, works on
canvas, crafts, andsculptureandceramics,with
artists grouped into professional and amateur
divisions. Winners in each division had their art
displayed at a regional show. APeople’s Choice
winner, selected by employees, also advanced
to the regional exhibition. This year’s People’s
Choice, and Best in Show, winner was a sculp-
tureofaneagle (picturedbelow)createdbyGlenn
Busch, the spouseof anAAflight attendant.
“The OnMy Own Time art show allows us to
enjoy the talents of our fellow employees and
provides an outlet for creativity that even those
of uswithout artistic abilities canbenefit from,”
says Denise Lynn, American’s vice president
of Diversity and Leadership Strategies and the
show’s executive sponsor. “It’s a great opportu-
nity for American to demonstrate support and
interest in itsemployees’ abilities.”
EmployeesAre theKey
Though American Airlines as a company sup-
ports the arts, advocacy for the arts is largely
driven by our employees. Approximately 45 em-
ployees aremembers of American’s Arts Lead-
ership Council, which oversees the ArtWorks
andOnMy Own Time programs. These employ-
eevolunteersandothers indozensof communi-
tiesaroundour routesystem takeactive roles in
supporting local artsorganizations.
American salutes the arts and applauds the
effortsofouremployees increatingandsupport-
ing the arts. They help transform anunadorned
silver plane intoaworldof dynamic color.
developed and sponsored by NTBCA: ArtWorks
and theOnMyOwnTimeemployeeart show.
ArtWorks
In the innovative ArtWorks program, now in its
second year, North Texas companies select lo-
cal artistswhosework theywould like toexhibit
in their places of business. (NTBCA compiles a
catalogofartists forbusinesses tochoose from.)
This year, American selected the art of Anne
Turner Beletic, a Dallas attorney and a self-
taughtwatercolorartist, anddisplayedherwork
at American’sFortWorth, Texas, headquarters.
Beletic has been recognized in the art world
as an emerging artist of significance and is
known for her vivid landscapes and impres-
sionistic portraits (such as the one pictured
above). This summer, American displayed 27
of her paintings to enthusiastic response. “The
AA community has been so supportive,” Beletic
says. “Itmakesmewant topaint!”
ArtisticExpressionSoarsatAA
