MISSION
AND
VALUES
On this page, you'll discover the mission and core values that drive us, the sustainability efforts that guide our operations, and our belief in the power of employee ownership. These commitments are a testament to our journey, our goals, and the actions we take to ensure that Atthowe Fine Art Services remains a responsible steward of the art we handle, the company we keep, and the world we share.
OUR
MISSION
Atthowe Fine Art Services is an employee-owned cooperative committed to the stewardship of art, people, and planet.
OUR
VALUES
Professionalism
Do no harm
Find the best solution for the artwork
Consider the future of the artwork
Honor the rights of artists and creators
Always be willing to learn and improve
Service
Prioritize quality
Guide clients with expertise and integrity
Take the time to do it right the first time
Focus on creatively solving current problems and preventing future ones
Seek solutions that satisfy the interests of all parties
Greening
Understand that our business uses valuable resources
Whenever possible:
Reduce the use of petrol-chemicals
Reduce the overall carbon footprint
Reduce waste
Cooperative
Maintain democratic governance structure
Provide equitable sharing of ownership wealth
Create lifelong, meaningful, and stable jobs with living wages and good benefits
Provide a safe and equitable work environment
Make work interesting, challenging, and fun
Provide flexibility for employees with opportunity to take unpaid leave
Citizenship
Assume good intent
Communicate productively and truthfully
Build respectful, lasting relationships and partnerships
Always prioritize accountability and results over blame and punishment
Nurture our cooperative structure and honor its principles
Actively support local businesses and arts organizations
Inclusiveness
Be open to innovation
Work against harmful biases
Remove unnecessary barriers to employment and ownership
Constantly seek improvement of standards and practices
Commit to the teaching of company standards
Value and reward individual improvement
ENVIRONMENTAL
SUSTAINABILITY
At Atthowe Fine Art Services, we recognize the environmental impact inherent in the art services industry, especially given our scope of operations spanning transportation, crating, packing, warehousing, large-scale public art installation, and beyond.
For decades sustainability has been a guiding value at Atthowe. Our founder, Scott Atthowe, and now our worker-owners, have aimed to minimize our environmental impact through a variety of initiatives. This dedication led us in 2001 to install one of Oakland's largest solar arrays on our main warehouse. In addition, we’ve prioritized recycling, the reduction of waste and energy consumption, and a selection of supply-chain partners who share our sustainability goals. Even with these initiatives, we feel there is much work ahead.
Our Greening Committee, a standing committee established by our Board of Directors, drives our goals, ensuring that sustainability is baked into our governance and management structure. In this way, we can formally enable internal policies and business decisions that promote sustainability and environmental stewardship.
In every action we take, Atthowe Fine Art Services is dedicated to making a difference — for our clients, our community, and our planet. We encourage and support our clients and vendors in adopting sustainable practices, underscoring our belief that collective action is paramount in paving the way towards a more sustainable future.
CHAMPIONING
EMPLOYEE OWNERSHIP
Our cooperative structure is the best way to promote wealth equity and maintain a culture of stewardship within our business. The journey to becoming a worker-owned cooperative in 2021 was significantly supported by Project Equity, whose invaluable guidance helped us transition seamlessly. The shape-shifting work with Project Equity reinforced our belief in the power of shared ownership to enhance worker equity, job satisfaction, and business stability. For more details on our transition and partnership with Project Equity, read this article and review our About page.
Image credits from this page: Franzi Charen of Project Equity