Why is a museum in St.
Petersburg, Fl., teaching
multinational corporations
about team
building, professional development
and creative problem solving? It makes
perfect sense if it’s The Dalí, a 3-star
Michelin museum that houses the most
comprehensive collection of Salvador
Dalí artwork outside of Europe.
In addition to the incredible collection
of art, the building itself is an architectural
icon, named one of the ten
most interesting museums in the world
by Architectural Digest magazine.
Emerging from the front of the building
is a dome-like structure with more
than 1,000 triangular-shaped glass
panels that overlook the downtown St.
Petersburg waterfront.
Inside, a winding staircase up to the
art galleries symbolizes the shape of
double helix strand of DNA. Once a
month, vocalists from the St. Petersburg
Opera Company appear at the top
of the staircase to entertain visitors
with a few arias, a fun surprise for the
unsuspecting.
For the past few years, the museum
has been hosting unique professional
development and leadership retreats
through its Innovation Labs. The inspiration
of Dr. Hank Hine, the museum’s
executive director, the Innovation Labs
at The Dalí encourages businesses to
think outside the box, using the backdrop
of the museum’s art and architecture
to spur creativity, problem solving
and innovation. As Dr. Hine, points
out, “Space can inform thought.” The
museum offers a unique space in which
the art can foster a new perspective to
amplify individual creativity.
Dr. Kim Macuare joined the
Innovation Labs at The Dalí earlier this
year as co-director and has helped
with new workshops and experiences.
It was an opportunity, she says, to
develop additional programs at the
“intersection of the humanities and the
sciences.”
COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS
A creative teambuilding
exercise
at the Dali.
Innovation
Labs at The
Dalí, The Art
of Innovation
16 'BURGLIFE | Living, Working and Playing in St. Petersburg, FL