New York-based The One Club, and the Art Directors Club, two of the most respected non-profit organisations serving the creative communications and design industries, have agreed to merge, forming The One Club for Creativity.
The new entity will serve as the umbrella organisation for The One Show, ADC Annual Awards, Young Guns and their respective Halls of Fame, education and diversity programmes.
The One Club began as The Copy Club and originally grew out of the ADC. The two organisations co-produced creative awards programs in the 1970s. Together, they combine a vast array of complementary programming across creative disciplines and build on their legacies of honouring excellence and championing inclusion and diversity, gender equality, professional development, mentorship and education.
José Mollá, chairman of The One Club board, said: “When our board voted, the decision was unanimous. We are committed to preserving the legacy of the programmes, while fulfilling the potential of each brand. The One Show is all about conceptual thinking.
“The ADC Awards recognise great ideas founded on design and craftsmanship. There is a great opportunity to influence new creative disciplines, celebrating innovative thinking from different perspectives on a global scale.”
ADC president Philippe Meunier said: “We are very excited about this reunion and the added benefits it offers our members and the creative world. By returning to our roots in conjunction with The One Club, ADC will strengthen its nearly century-long focus as a club of creative leaders, a community of visionary thinkers and passionate, proactive doers dedicated to making and celebrating world-changing ideas.
“This reunion enables us to better expand our ADC Annual Awards, the world’s longest-running creative awards programme now in its 95th year, our fast-growing Young Guns programme celebrating the top creative leaders of tomorrow, and other programmes and events.”
The Onc Club ceo Kevin Swanepoel said: “The One Club and the Art Directors Club share a rich history and a commitment to ideas and craft and the purity of creativity. Both non-profit organisations are dedicated to honouring excellence as well as supporting creative talent from all walks of life and in all stages of their careers. Together, as an organisation made by creative people for creative people, The One Club and ADC will tirelessly champion the creative community, maintain the highest standard for creativity, and provide the greatest support network for the creative community in the world.”
The following programs and initiatives will retain their own brand identities while benefiting from joined resources and networks: The One Show Awards, Creative Hall of Fame, Creative Week, Creative Boot Camps, “Here Are All The Black People” multicultural creative career fair, Creative Leaders Retreat, Young Ones Awards honouring students, Creative Women’s Leadership Series, ADC Annual Awards, Young Guns honouring top creatives 30 and younger, Hall of Fame, 50/50 Initiative, Paper Expo, Hands On, InspiADCion, Henry Wolf Photography Workshop for NYC public school students, SaturdayCareer Workshops for talented high school juniors in the five boroughs of New York and others.
The merger has yet to be approved by the New York State Attorney General’s Office.
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