The 2021 Business to Arts Award Winners are announced
April 22nd, 2021
Elaina Ryan, CEO of Children’s Books Ireland with her children Fiadh (age 5) and Sadhbh (age 3) winner of this years Business to Arts Awards Judges’ Special Recognition Award supported by Accenture. Photograph Conor McCabe Photography.
Aerogen & Druid, Flogas & Galway International Arts Festival, Iarnród Éireann / Irish Rail & Christopher Steenson were among the winners in nine categories at the 29th annual Business to Arts Awards ceremony which was broadcast online from the GPO.
Despite the significant challenges faced by businesses and the arts over the past year, entries to the 29th Business to Arts Awards were significant. The winning nominations showcase the impact that can be made through collaborative partnerships and demonstrate the importance of supporting the arts at a critical time. Outstanding examples of creative partnerships, which are adapting to the current environment and are setting new standards for arts engagement and backing were celebrated at this evening’s online Awards Ceremony.
The Business to Arts Awards recognise businesses, philanthropists, artists and arts organisations that develop creative partnerships. Winning partnerships focus on arts sponsorship, commissioning of artists, staff engagement and CSR initiatives, philanthropy and community engagement. Many of the collaborations are the result of long-term relationships.
The 2021 Business to Arts Awards Winners are:
| Award Category | County | Winners |
| Best Long Term Partnership supported by The Irish Times | National | An Post Irish Book Awards |
| Best Philanthropic Support to the Arts supported by The Arts Council | Dublin | Naughton Foundation & Museum of Literature Ireland |
| Jim McNaughton Perpetual Award for Best Commissioning Practice | Dublin | Accenture & Paul Harrison for ‘Quinquaginta’ and Fuchsia MacAree for ‘Fierce Determination’ |
| Jim McNaughton / TileStyle €10,000 Artist’s Bursary | Dublin | Miriam Kaczor |
| Best Large Sponsorship supported by Arthur Cox | Dublin | National Concert Hall & Davy |
| Best Use of Creativity in the Community supported by Irish Life | Galway | Flogas & Galway International Arts Festival with John Gerrard for ‘Mirror Pavilion’ |
| Best Small Sponsorship | Galway | Aerogen & Druid for the DruidGregory Programme |
| Best Use of Creativity in the Workplace supported by ESB | National | Iarnród Éireann / Irish Rail & Christopher Steenson for ‘On Chorus’ |
| Judges’ Special Recognition Award supported by Accenture | National | Children’s Books Ireland for partnerships with An Post, Brown Bag Films, Community Foundation for Ireland, Ecclesiastical, KPMG, Rethink Ireland and William Fry |
Leading the congratulations among business and arts leaders was Catherine Martin T.D.
Catherine Martin, TD, Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media said:
“In the face of such an unprecedented year, the Business to Arts Awards remind us of the resilience and ingenuity of creative partnerships and the positive impact that they can deliver. The innovation and resourcefulness of this year’s nominees reminds us of our inherent agility and the importance of culture and arts as a source of inspiration and comfort for many people over the last year. My congratulations to everyone shortlisted and the winners.”
Andrew Hetherington, Chief Executive of Business to Arts, said:
“Whether it is the books you are reading, the drama and films you are watching or the music you are listening to, there can be no doubt that the arts have played a significant role helping us and entertaining us over the last year. With the winners of the Business to Arts Awards, we recognise the best sponsorships and partnerships of the last 18 months and acknowledge their contributions to society. Congratulations to each winner.”
Etain Seymour, Director of Marketing + Communications at Accenture in Ireland said:
“We are very proud to support the Judges’ Special Recognition Award this year. Congratulations to all nominees selected by the judging panel for their contributions to the arts over many, many years. It was heartening to see the strength of submissions from arts organisations in particular this year, reinforcing their journey and commitment to the arts sector. I’m delighted for our winner, Children’s Books Ireland, for all they do to engage so many children nationally in a meaningful way to inspire a love for books and develop a fondness for reading from a very young age.”
Orla O’Connor, Chair, Arthur Cox said:
“Arthur Cox is delighted to partner with Business to Arts to support the awards and Ireland’s arts community. I would like to congratulate the winners, who are all worthy recipients.
We recognise and support the role that the arts play in creating a vibrant, engaged and creative community. They inspire us, and lift our spirits, and are more important than ever, as we live through the challenges of life in a global pandemic.”
Tony Lawless, Head of Strategy Europe, Canada Life (Irish Life) said:
“Irish Life is delighted to support anything that brings creativity into the community and inspires or engages people. As such, it is fantastic to see something like the ‘Mirror Pavilion’ overcoming the challenges posed by the current pandemic to lift the spirits of those in Galway and beyond. Congratulations to Flogas & Galway International Arts Festival and John Gerrard for such an inspirational collaboration – a worthy winner.”
Martin O’Sullivan, Deputy Director of the Arts Council said:
“The Naughton Foundation’s substantial financial support enabled the project to be realised, ultimately delivering a major cultural institution that is both an homage to Joyce and a much needed physical focal point for Irish literary life which is fully accessible on all floors. This is why it is most fitting that we honour and celebrate MoLI – Museum of Literature Ireland and the visionary generosity of the Naughton Foundation – what an inspired act of philanthropy!”
Pat O’Doherty, CEO, ESB said:
“As a long-term patron of the arts in Ireland, ESB recognises the important role that artists play not only in recording and interpreting social and economic developments, but also in engaging communities and stimulating innovation and creativity. We are very proud to support the Best Use of Creativity in the Workplace Award, and the ongoing work of Business to Arts. Congratulations to Iarnród Éireann / Irish Rail and Christopher Steenson for ‘On Chorus’. This is a unique and really imaginative project to bring creativity into the workplace and actively engage staff and the public around the issue of biodiversity.”
Liam Kavanagh, Managing Director, The Irish Times said:
“As sponsor of the Best Long-Term Partnership Award, The Irish Times is delighted to congratulate An Post on their much deserved success. Since the partnership commenced in 2018, An Post has demonstrated great commitment to the Irish Books Awards and has been instrumental in further raising their profile and championing this celebration of Irish writing which brings together a huge community in the literary world including readers, authors and booksellers.”
Gerry Butler, Managing Director, TileStyle said:
“As long-standing supporters of Business to Arts and the Jim McNaughton Perpetual Award for Best Commissioning Practice, TileStyle is delighted to congratulate Accenture, Paul Harrison and Fuchsia MacAree on their worthy success. It is more important than ever to support the arts and commissioning art, in all its forms, is a vital way of doing this. It contributes hugely to the development of an artist’s practice which consequently greatly contributes to the cultural landscape of Ireland. At TileStyle we are proud to be championing some of the best art being commissioned today.”
