This post is part of an ongoing collaboration with Business & Arts
HEX b30000 - Because it represents boldness, passion and a rebellious spirit
Business & Arts is a student association at Bocconi University that brings together like-minded individuals who share creative and cultural curiosity. Founded in 2016, it remains participatory, non-profit, and egalitarian, driven by a desire to create alternative spaces within an otherwise rigid and monolithic educational environment.
Bocconi, as a university focused on business and economics school, often homogenizes interests and ambitions towards traditional career paths associated with its core disciplines – finance, consulting, and corporate management. While these industries are front and center, the creative fields are often sidelined. B&A exists at the intersection, drawing from both the corporate orientation of the institution and the creative world. It forges a space where both disciplines can converge, creating opportunities for self-expression, interaction, and dialogue among its members.
The association thrives on the active participation of its members, who collectively shape its projects and culturу. However, B&A’s mission extends beyond the university walls, aiming to
create a vibrant, ever-evolving, permeable space. One that connects not just Bocconi students but also the wider creative and student communities of Milan. Through collaborations with local institutions, cultural organizations, and emerging realities, B&A fosters opportunities to exchange ideas, showcase talent, and network, ultimately enriching the city’s dynamic creative scene.
Core to the B&A’s philosophy are the principles of transparency and accessibility. The association promotes free-flowing information, ensuring that participation is open to all,
regardless of academic background or experience. Members and guests alike have access to a diverse range of events, including exhibitions, workshops, and panels, where emerging and established voices in the arts and business share their expertise. By tapping into Milan’s creative vibrancy, B&A offers its community a gateway to connection, discussion, and knowledge. Everyone is welcome to engage with the new worlds B&A seeks to open up.
The association’s events reflect this dual commitment to exploration and connection. Industry talks span like contemporary art, independent publishing, fashion curation, and music production, offering insights into creative journeys and challenges. Insider visits to Milan’s leading art fairs and exhibitions provide guided experiences led by curators, gallerists, and artists themselves. B&A also embraces a celebratory dimension – through aperitivos, club nights, and multidisciplinary gatherings that foster a sense of community. The informal should not be undermined by the culture of professionalism, thus the association recognizes that celebrating youth and pleasure compliments the holistic philosophy of life and creativity.
Initiatives such as B&A Live District and Subcultura exemplify the association’s dedication to nurturing Milan’s creative youth. These series of events showcase photography, fashion design, visual arts, and experimental media, offering a platform for emerging talents to share their work and vision. In doing so, B&A doesn’t just host events but fosters dialogue and builds meaningful connections between students and Milan’s dynamic cultural landscape.
The editorial branch serves as a space for reflection and critique, publishing opinion pieces and personal essays on a variety of cultural topics. The Stories section highlights the creative work of Bocconians, while Interviews feature insights from established industry figures, offering a window into diverse creative careers. Additionally, the editorial team critically examines Bocconi itself, discussing its structures and culture, while also reflecting on the broader transition into early adulthood.
B&A’s marketing is a manifestation of its creative character—visually driven, conceptually sharp, and rooted in aesthetic exploration. It is both an outward expression of the association’s vision and a medium through which members engage in a cycle of creative expression, sharing their unique ideas and projects.
The three branches – events, editorial and marketing – exist in a collaborative symbiosis which gives rise to various innovative initiatives. Interactive rubrics like Milano alla Carta introduce the readers to the city’s local spots and hidden gems, while the long-running Sunday Paper keeps the community informed on the latest happenings in the creative world. By breaking away from the rigid academic environment, B&A empowers its community to explore diverse opportunities within and beyond the university.
Business & Arts has become more than just an association - it plays a crucial role in fostering representation and inclusion within Bocconi’s rigid institutional culture. The association serves as a safe haven for the university’s misfits, those who don’t fit the mold of the “traditional Bocconian.” The inclusivity is fostered by blurring the lines of international horizons providing the space for cultural exchange. Furthermore, for many queer students, B&A holds special significance, offering a rare space of self-expression, community and fluidity, where identity is celebrated.
The association’s positioning as a countercurrent to institutional norms fuels its development. Unlike other student groups that align with Bocconi’s corporate culture, B&A serves as a bold and dissident voice, pushing boundaries and offering creative alternatives. Though sometimes criticized as pretentious, this pursuit of authenticity and self-expression is both productive and necessary. It affirms the need for student-led alternative spaces, ones that challenge, critique, and expand the scope of what a university education can and should be.
Do you know of other examples where creativity and corporate culture successfully coexist? Do you think this balance can be achieved not just in universities, but in broader societal structures as well? And in that sense: could culture shape the future? And if so, how?