Annual Business to Arts Awards Call for Nominations now Live
October 21st, 2020
Pictured at a COVID-19-adapted announcement of the Business to Arts Awards is Rachel Ní Bhraonáin of Fidget Feet. Photograph: Robbie Reynolds
Today, Business to Arts alongside their supporting partners launched the call for nominations for the annual Business to Arts Awards. The Awards champion businesses, artists and arts organisations that work together in areas such as sponsorship, commissioning and CSR programmes, which involve creativity in the community and in the workplace.
At the awards launch, Business to Arts encouraged businesses across Ireland to support the arts, strengthen their existing relationships with the cultural community and create meaningful partnerships at a time of critical need for the arts sector. Research conducted by Business to Arts in 2019 among corporate sponsors and arts organisations in Ireland revealed that:
- Over €8.5 million was spent on arts, festival and music sponsorships between May 2018/2019
- Of the arts sponsors surveyed in 2019, 41% reported that they would increase their spend in 2020
Winners of the Business to Arts Awards provide leading examples that help inform others about the ways to support the arts sector during the pandemic.
2021 will mark the 29th edition of the Business to Arts Awards and will include a COVID-19-adapted Ceremony, which will take place in April 2021 and will be broadcast online from the GPO. Supporters of the Awards include Accenture, Arthur Cox, daa, Irish Life, The Arts Council / An Comhairle Ealaíon, The Irish Times, TileStyle and An Post.
For the 29th year, daa will commission the award sculpture presented to winners of the Business to Arts Awards. This is one of the longest recurring commissions of artists by any business in Ireland. In recent years, the artists commissioned have included Emma Bourke (Mayo), Ed Miliano (Dublin), Kevin Callaghan (Cork) and Cara Murphy (Down). The next commissioned artist will be announced in February 2021.
There are 9 categories in total that focus on sponsorship, commissioning and CSR initiatives including creativity in the community and in the workplace. A new award recognising philanthropic giving has been announced in partnership with the Arts Council/ An Comhairle Ealaíon. The full list of categories are:
- Best Large Sponsorship (> €25,000) supported by Arthur Cox
- Best Small Sponsorship (< €25,000)
- Best Long Term Partnership (3 years or more) supported by The Irish Times
- Best Use of Creativity in the Community supported by Irish Life
- Best Use of Creativity in the Workplace supported by ESB
- Jim McNaughton Perpetual Award for Best Commissioning Practice
- Jim McNaughton / TileStyle €10,000 Bursary for Artists
- Best Philanthropic Support to the Arts supported by the Arts Council
- Judges’ Special Recognition Award supported by Accenture
Previous award winners include BNP Paribas & IMMA, Butler Gallery & Cartoon Saloon, Grant Thornton & National Concert Hall, McGarrell Reilly Group, Fishamble: The New Play Company and Waterford Walls.
At the launch Andrew Hetherington, Chief Executive of Business to Arts said:
“As we navigate the challenges of COVID-19, it is critical that we increase our advocacy with the private sector to support the arts community in towns and cities throughout Ireland. Our Awards are our flagship programme to achieve this. The winners will demonstrate how businesses are supporting the arts during the pandemic and the many ways other businesses can do this. We welcome the supporters of the Business to Arts Awards this year. Their commitment reflects the belief in our mission to champion collaboration with Ireland’s arts community and encourage other business leaders to support the arts. We look forward to recognising the shortlisted and winning relationships in April in an appropriate Awards Ceremony.”
Dr. Michelle Cullen, Managing Director and Head of Inclusion & Diversity, Accenture said:
“As society adapts to this challenging period, it is more important than ever that businesses support Ireland’s cherished arts sector in meaningful ways to keep our culture flourishing. Accenture is delighted to sponsor the Judges’ Special Recognition Award, which will be awarded based on an overall diverse portfolio of partnerships in the community.”
Orla O’Connor, Chair, Arthur Cox said:
“We are delighted to partner again with Business to Arts and support both the awards and Ireland’s arts community. In these uncertain times, the arts inspire us and lift our spirits and are more important than ever.
Supporting and leveraging creative thinking is essential for building healthy businesses and vibrant communities and enriching our working environments. We wish all the applicants well with their entries.”
Tony Lawless, Vice President, Canada Life (Irish Life) said:
“Irish Life is delighted to sponsor the award for Best Use of Creativity in the Community this year. As a company with deep roots in the community, looking after over a million Irish people right across the island, we are proud to support the uplifting impact that successful creativity can have.”
Martin O’Sullivan, Deputy Director of the Arts Council said:
“The Arts Council is delighted to support the Business to Arts award for Best Philanthropic Support to the Arts which recognises best-practice and outstanding impact in the area of arts philanthropy. We strongly encourage the embedding of a culture of sustainable philanthropy for the arts encapsulated in the Arts Council’s RAISE programme which is focused on growing private investment to the arts in Ireland. We look forward to acknowledging and recognising the philanthropic champions to the arts and encourage all those artists and arts organisations who are beneficiaries of generous philanthropy to nominate their champions for this award.”
Liam Kavanagh, Managing Director, The Irish Times said:
“The Irish Times is delighted to continue its media partnership and association with Business to Arts. This highlights our long-standing commitment to supporting and covering all aspects of arts and culture to a strong and engaged audience. We are proud to support the mission of Business to Arts, in particular at this time given the severe impact the pandemic has had on the sector. We look forward to a happier future and to an eventful and successful 29th Awards.”
Gerry Butler, Managing Director, TileStyle said:
“We are delighted to support Business to Arts in promoting creative partnerships between the arts and business communities. The awards recognise world class collaborations and showcase how exceptional talent, innovation and creativity can be harnessed for the benefit of all.”
The closing date for applications is Wednesday 16th December at 5pm. Go to www.businesstoarts.ie/awards for information on the application process and to complete the online application form.