ArtWorksThe arts are proving to be great for business In St. Petersburg.

Leslie NeumanEnriqueta Ahrensburg

Nathan Beard Patton Hunter

d-gallerie and Premier Sotheby’s International Realty

• Alejandro Quintero-Reina, owner of d-gallerie, has curated exhibits in the Premier Sotheby’s International Realty office. When customers go to their offices for meetings, they can see arts from d-gallerie displayed.

• Lauren Hendrickson, managing broker for Premier Sotheby’s International Realty says the connection between art and real estate is important.

The Hermitage and the Morean Arts Center

• The Hermitage, a block-long complex of more than 300 luxury apartments, will host exhibitions from the Morean Arts Center in its lobby gallery for four months.

• Amanda Cooper, Morean curator of exhibitions thinks it is a great opportunity to showcase local artists. The point is to get exposure and hopefully sales.

Art at Work, the Morean’s art leasing program

• Art at Work is an art leasing program, allowing artists who have a lot of inventory to rent their work to businesses looking to furnish bare walls for a monthly fee.

• Patton Hunter, whose paintings appear at a diagnostic clinic in Largo through the program, really enjoys it. She was paid to store her art and have an exposure in a public place. Sometimes, people called her to say they saw her work at the clinic.

Staybridge Suites St. Petersburg and ARTicles Art Gallery

• The Staybridge Suites St. Petersburg transforms its lobby and dining area into a local art showplace for ARTicles Art Gallery. Curator and artist Nathan Beard sold one of his pieces through the collaboration.

• Staybridge director of sales Kathy R. Montz said artworks are exposed to thousands people in that time, and in turn, ARTicles is able to increase public awareness of the the hotel and pass along referrals.

St. Pete Store and Visitors Center

• The St. Pete Store and Visitors Center in the St. Petersburg Chamber of Commerce serves up a rotating showcase of locally made works by artists and crafters.

• Artists receive 50 to 60 percent of proceeds from sales.

Investment in the arts

• Stacia Schrader, vice president at Regions Financial Corporation, agreed that investment in St. Petersburg arts yield dividends.

• She says people want to come and live here thanks to the energy and vibrancy the arts give to the city. She wants to support financially and educationally the arts community in St. Petersburg, and help small business and gallery owners run their businesses better so they can grow long term.

Sylvia Rusche Insurance Agency

• Sylvia features artists several times a year, helping promote their work as hundreds of people walk by her windows each day. Sylvia not only is featuring Carrie Jadus’ work, she owns two of the works that are now displayed!

Berkshire Hathaway Home Services

The Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Realty on

Beach Drive once a month hosts an emerging artist.