Launching the Bank of Ireland Begin Together Arts Fund in partnership with Business to Arts, Francesca McDonagh, Group Chief Executive, Bank of Ireland and Andrew Hetherington, CEO, Business to Arts at the Bank of Ireland Cultural and Heritage Centre. Picture Robbie Reynolds.

The second round of the Bank of Ireland Begin Together Arts Fund, in partnership with Business to Arts was launched today. The all-island Begin Together Arts Fund will make a total of €1 million in arts funding available over three years, awarded to projects that are adapting due to the pandemic, or are inspired by and responding to our recovery.

The Arts Fund supports or commissions artists and arts organisations to develop arts projects that engage the individuals, audiences and communities involved. All art forms are eligible to apply to the fund. With this second round, Bank of Ireland and Business to Arts are encouraging more applications from artists who specialise in fine-art film and craft-related disciplines and from community arts organisations, who were under-represented in round one.

During the first round of the Arts Fund over €300,000 was distributed to 36 projects across the island of Ireland. Projects such as ‘Yes, But Do You Care?’, a collaboration between visual artist Marie Brett, choreographer/performer Philip Connaughton, The Alzheimer Society of Ireland, and the Dementia Carers Campaign Network that recently launched online via the Irish Museum of Modern Art; Mobile Music Ensemble’s ‘Covid Care Concerts’ which toured hospitals and care homes during 2020 and will continue their concerts in coming months; and ‘Locked up in Lockdown’, a theatre collaboration between the Lyric Theatre, Belfast and members of a young offenders’ centre about their experiences of the pandemic.

Oliver Wall, Chief of Staff and Head of Group Corporate Affairs, Bank of Ireland said, “I’m delighted that the Bank of Ireland Begin Together Arts Fund continues to support new work and artistic practice during these challenging times for the arts. It represents an important part of our wider support for communities across the island of Ireland. The projects supported by the Fund will have an important role to play in helping us all to reflect on the last 12 months and look to brighter days ahead.”

Catherine Martin, TD, Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media said, “The Covid-19 pandemic has thrown what we value most into sharp relief. It is both poignant and powerful to see the eagerness with which cultural content is being consumed and craved, as we now look hopefully towards better times.  Thanks to funding provided by my Department, this second round of the Begin Together Arts Fund, in partnership with Business to Arts, will support artists and arts organisations in realising their projects in innovative and engaging ways. I am delighted to see this Fund continue to benefit the sector.”

Andrew Hetherington, CEO, Business to Arts said, “The Begin Together Arts Fund is a vital source of private sector funding for the arts.  The projects funded in round one demonstrate the adaptability and resilience of Ireland’s arts sector. Business to Arts is proud work in partnership with Bank of Ireland as we progress the fund, reach more communities and help realise quality arts experiences for people across the island of Ireland”.

About the Bank of Ireland Begin Together Arts Fund:

This Fund provides fees to artists or groups of artists to create new work and help maximise the budgets of partner organisations (e.g. arts organisations, community/voluntary organisations, etc.) for their programme of activity.

Artists or groups of artists applying must work with a partner organisation (e.g. a venue or event, arts organisation, community/voluntary organisation or another funding agency/organisation). Applicants can request funds between €3,000 – €10,000 / (STG equivalent), and average grants will be €5,000 / (STG equivalent), with maximum grants of €10,000 / (STG equivalent). Arts projects with larger budgets that have secured funds elsewhere are encouraged to apply. With each grant round, the Fund aims to provide funding to an arts project in each county on the island of Ireland.

Closing date for the second round of applications is Wednesday, 23 June 2021 at 5pm. Go to www.businesstoarts.ie/artsfund/bank-of-ireland for information on the application process and to complete the online application form.

Our main priority during the COVID-19 pandemic is the safety of our employees, members, affiliates and the wider public. Our mission involves supporting people who work in the arts and in business. As a result, we will maintain an updated central reference page for all COVID-19 related advice and opportunities as they become known to us.

Business to Arts phone lines remain open for calls with our members, affiliates and for general queries from the public. We ask you to communicate with us through direct staff email or info@businesstoarts.ie as much as possible over the next couple of weeks to help us manage the workload as efficiently as possible.   

Here are the steps we are taking to help our members and affiliates

We advise that you maintain awareness of Government advice and supports contained on:

Hse.ie

Gov.ie including: Information for employers, information for employees and self employed, illness benefit for COVID-19 absences, social welfare COVID-19 contacts 

Department of Culture, Heritage & Gaeltacht 

Arts Council 

Charities Regulator

There are many useful Business Toolkits available online – here is one from BDO Ireland

Business to Arts & Fund it initial response:

We will centralise Business to Arts information and guidance here

Business to Arts will offer a series of online one-to-one clinics commencing 2nd April for our arts affiliates. We will be focusing on the individual needs of each organisation caused by COVID-19 during the session. These may include crisis fundraising and communications, sponsorship contracts and obligations, future fundraising plans and general business continuity queries. To book, please contact Michelle@BusinesstoArts.ie. 

Fundit.ie is accepting COVID-19-related emergency fundraising campaigns from March until the end of May. This will allow anyone that has experienced a sudden loss of income or may require funds as a result of COVID-19 to harness the power of their supporters to fund some or all of their needs.

From March until the end of May Fundit.ie will also reduce our commission for COVID-19 related crowdfunding campaigns from 8% to 4% during this period. i.e. only payment processing, merchant services and basic admin charges apply. We will work to reduce these further over the coming weeks. [update as of May 31st: commission reverted to 8%]

Fundraising Continuity / Advice ¹-²

Have a highly visible donation button on the homepage or your website and on your social media profile if possible.

For any cancelled performance/events, ask ticket buyers to donate the value of their ticket to you / your organisation so that the artists and your organisation is paid.

If you have cancelled or significantly scaled back a sponsored event, ask the sponsor/funder to relax the use of their funds. 

If you have large suppliers for your sponsored activities, ask for extended payment terms and/or consider payment forgiveness if your circumstances require this.

Gradually start to showcase your future plans for Autumn/Winter 2020 and beyond. While doing this, encourage your followers to support your organisation’s friends / membership campaign or ongoing fundraising campaign.

This might be a good time to kickstart or reinvigorate your  digital fundraising opportunities (e.g. fundit, patreon, gofundme etc). 

All communications related to the above should outline how the ticket price, sponsorship or donation will help you / your organisation survive during this difficult time.

One of the best ways to support artists is to buy their work. Find artists and arts organisations online and support them directly. Buy their vouchers, buy their books, listen to their music or watch their films on your chosen streaming services.

The Importance of Arts Advocacy 

It is important we all continue to make Government, the general public and private sector sponsors aware of the critical role of artists, creatives and Ireland’s cultural sector plays. We must make evidence-based arguments, which enhance supports for/investment in:

Artists, arts organisations and businesses impacted by the cancellation of mass events and closure of venues.

Self-employed workers and businesses (especially SME’s and cultural and creative businesses).  

In order to do this, we will work with all stakeholders to share knowledge, develop solutions and identify relevant supports. If you have an idea that you would like to discuss with us, please make contact via phone or info@businesstoarts.ie Please note that new Business to Arts initiatives will require further planning.

With thanks to key additional sources, partners & credits

1.DeVos Institute

2.NCFA

3.ThinkBusiness

CBS Westland Row TY students Genoveva Nemes (age 16) and Ademola Oke-Eko at Walkers offices. Photo: Conor McCabe

Business to Arts and global financial services law firm and corporate services business, Walkers, have announced the second year of the ‘Walkers Stories from the Docklands Photography Competition’. Members of the public are invited to submit photographs, that fit under one of four themes – architecture, people in motion, life on the water and daily life. Photographs where possible should be taken in the Dublin Docklands area. Due to the current situation, photographs are also welcomed which have been captured in any local area (e.g. home, garden, neighbourhood). There are four categories of entrant:

• Children 12 years and under
• Teenagers 13 to 18 years of age
• Adults
• Walkers Staff Members

Images may be taken on cameras or mobile phones. The closing date for entries is 20 July 2020.

A panel of experts will convene to select the shortlisted and winning images. Shortlisted and winning images will receive One4all vouchers. A number of selected photographs will be printed and displayed in the Walkers offices, with printed images presented to the participants as a prize per category.

This project builds on the Walkers Photographer-in-Residence programme which is now its third year. In February 2018, Irish photographer Kate Nolan was announced as the Walkers Photographer-in-Residence. The residency includes a series of workshops, where Kate has introduced documentary photography to CBS Westland Row transition year students and Walkers staff through ‘story walks’ of the Docklands. The residency supports Business to Arts’ wider programme of activity, which promotes the Arts collaboratively with businesses, artists, audiences and communities.

2020 sees Walkers celebrating 10 years in Ireland. Garry Ferguson, Managing Partner, Walkers commented:

“We are pleased to extend Walkers Photographer-in-Residence programme to also enable members of the public as well as our staff and the students of CBS Westland Row, to enter photographs under this competition. The photography competition theme centres on the architecture, movement of people and life on water in the picturesque and inspirational Dublin Docklands area where new and traditional parts of Dublin come together to form a flourishing centre for commerce, entertainment and urban living.”

At the announcement, Andrew Hetherington, Chief Executive, Business to Arts stated:

‘We are very happy to announce the second annual Walkers Stories from the Docklands competition. This project builds on our collaborative partnership with Walkers, Photographer-in-Residence Kate Nolan, CBS Westland Row and the Docklands Arts Fund. The Docklands is continuously evolving and we look forward to receiving submissions that capture the day-to-day life and activities of those who work, live and commute through the area.’

For further information please click here.

Business to Arts Awards Picture Conor McCabe Photography

It was with great sadness that we heard of the death of our friend Keelin Shanley. We had the pleasure of working with Keelin over a five-year period as Master of Ceremonies for the Business to Arts Awards. During that time she also worked as MC at the Irish Book Awards and Accenture’s International Women’s Day Events.

Speaking about Keelin, Andrew Hetherington, Chief Executive of Business to Arts said, “Keelin was a natural choice as master of ceremonies for our Awards. She had a great ability to hold an audience and seamlessly move between official ceremony and lighter conversation with winners. She was a strong advocate for women in media, and the arts, and was interested in the work of Business to Arts. As well as being an accomplished journalist and presenter known to everyone, she was a close friend of many people that are a part of our organisation. Our heartfelt sympathies to her husband Conor, her children, family and colleagues at RTE.”

Keelin’s obituary in on RTE can be read here and on Irish Times here.

Following the launch of Galway 2020, the team at Business to Arts look forward to attending some of the cultural events that will happen across Galway city and county in the coming year. From immersive theatre to street fairs, light shows to circus spectacles there is something for everyone. Galway 2020 events run all year until January 2021 culminating in Lumiere Galway, which will see Galway city transformed by artists through large-scale projections, light sculptures and interactive digital installations.

Here are some of our highlights:

• Joeleen Lynch – Membership & Projects Manager

To the Moon (March 31st-April 12th) 

A collaboration from NASA’s first artist-in-residence Laurie Anderson and new media artist Hsin-Chien Huang. I am excited for ‘To the Moon’, which promises a dreamlike immersive experience that takes the audience on their own 30 minute lunar exploration. A timely VR experience commenting on humans transitory experience on earth and our impact on other life forms that are threatened by extinction including the polar bear and the honey bee. Click here to learn more.

• Andrew Hetherington – Chief Executive

Druid: The Galway Tour (May 7th- July 5th)

Druid will perform a series of one act plays, which will be performed in local communities across Galway County and City. We’ve had the pleasure of working with the Druid team from 2018 – 2020 through their participation on our Fundraising Fellowship, Ireland programme. Druid’s reputation for bringing their productions to different locations in Galway means seeing one of these performances should not be missed. Click here to learn more.

• Helen Carroll – Head of Communications & Partnerships

Gilgamesh (April, June, November, December)

Macnas and Marina Carr bring the legendary adventures of Gilgamesh to life across the four seasons with the story beginning to unfold in fragments in spring and moving outdoors for summer. Playing out in multiple sites across the city, county and digital realm, Macnas are magical storytellers who constantly surprise, creating powerful and visual theatrical shows for audiences of all ages. Click here to learn more.

• Eileen Hanratty – Senior Membership & Projects Manager

Fire Garden (August)

To mark the start of Lughnasa and the long wild nights of this enchanted season, fire alchemists Cie Carabosse will create a magical fire garden on a huge scale in and around one of County Galway’s most impressive monuments. It will be a poignant experience, reflecting on the most basic and elemental human need for warmth and light as humanity is battling with the consequences of Earth’s increasing temperatures. Click here to learn more.

• Michelle Reid – Arts Programme Manager

Waterlicht (October)

Responding to the pressing risk of rising sea levels brought on by global warming, Dutch artist Daan Roosegaarde will transform an area deep within Connemara into a virtual underwater world. Connemara has long been on my list of places to explore. With the prospect of being enveloped in a virtual flood in the depths of Connemara, as well as confronting the ever-growing threat of climate change in an immersive installation, I could see no better way to develop and deepen my connection with this beautiful landscape. Click here to learn more.

To see the full Galway 2020 programme click here

Mentors/Artists Liam De Frinse and Brid Higgins Ni ChinnŽide. Photographer: 1IMAGE/Bryan Brophy

Business to Arts are very happy to work with EZ Films & TG4 on the TV series ‘Creative Company’. The new arts-based competition 6-part series airs on TG4 on Thursday evenings at 9.30pm. Working with an artist, ten Irish companies take on the challenge of creating a piece of large-scale public art.

The project is judged by a team of expert art critics, Evelyn O’Rourke, Broadcaster RTÉ; Caomhán Mac Con Iomaire, National Gallery of Ireland; and Helen Carroll, Business to Arts.

Watch the episodes here:

• Episode 1: The Gleneagle Hotel versus Maurice Ward
• Episode 2: Circle K versus Dingle Hub
• Episode 3:  Standún versus Energia
• Episode 4: Donegal Yarns versus Raidió na Life
• Episode 5: Big O Taxi’s versus Donegal ETB
• Episode 6:Grand Final

Business to Arts welcomes the launch of Culture 2025 – A National Cultural Policy Framework to 2025 by Minister Josepha Madigan TD and the Department of Culture, Heritage & Galetacht on Jan 10, 2020.

Culture 2025 sets the direction for Government policy across the cultural sector, including the arts, the Irish language and the creative, heritage and audiovisual sectors.  It details the Government’s aspirations for these areas and how these aspirations can be achieved.

Key actions contained within Culture 2025 include:

• Increasing access to and participation in the arts and boosting our creative industries;
• Working collaboratively to enable the creative potential of every child and young person;
• Investing in our Gaeltacht and supporting the Irish language;
• Supporting traditional culture and securing global recognition for unique Irish cultural traditions;
• And protecting and promoting Ireland’s natural habitats and biodiversity;

Business to Arts welcomes the Government’s commitment to double the amount of public funding for arts and culture by 2025 to €576m.

We also welcome the Government commitment to “encouraging strong, mutually beneficial links between the business and arts community.” As part of this commitment, Government states it will “examine ways to further promote private investment across the cultural sector.” The overall aim of this policy is to ensure that both public and private sector funding for the cultural sector rests on a solid base, which will enable the Sector to protect and harness our cultural heritage.

You can read Culture 2025 – A National Cultural Policy Framework to 2025 here.

For further information see

Culture 2025 – Discussion Document (Published in 2015) 

Progressing Philanthropy in the Arts in Ireland – read Andrew Hetherington’s opinion piece in VitalSigns_2019 (P.17)

Arts, Festival and Music Sponsorship Market in Ireland – read our 2019 research report here

We are delighted to announce that Tony Lawless has been appointed to the board of Business to Arts.

Tony Lawless is Managing Director of Irish Life Corporate Business. Irish Life Corporate Business is the Group Pension market leader in Ireland providing pension and protection benefits to over 500,000 employees and is part of the broader Irish Life Group with over 3,500 employees in Dublin.

Tony began his career with Irish Life over 25 years ago, and has carried out a number of key Senior Management roles with a particular focus in sales, marketing and product areas.

Tony graduated from Trinity College Dublin with BBS Degree and an MBA from DCU, and is currently on the board of the Life Assurance Association.

Pictured launching the event are l-r: Andrew Hetherington, CEO, Business to Arts; Fionnuala Croke, Director, Chester Beatty and Feargal O’Rourke, Managing Partner, PwC. Picture Jason Clarke

PwC and Business to Arts will host their annual CEO Forum this coming Thursday, 26 September, to bring corporate and cultural leaders together to shine the spotlight on empowering the consumer through digital technology.  Through case studies, the event will explore how emerging technologies such such as augmented reality and artificial intelligence can bring the customer experience to new levels. PwC research has revealed that over three-quarters (77%) of Irish business leaders are of the view that Artificial intelligence will significantly change how they will do business in the next five years, but more investment is needed. The CEO Forum will showcase examples of companies whose business strategy involves putting their consumer more in control of their content, artefacts and consumables. Panellists will include Orla Carroll, Director of Product Development, Fáilte Ireland; Fionnuala Croke, Director, Chester Beatty; Geraldine Heavey, Executive Director, Enterprise Services, ESB and David Lee, Technology Partner, PwC.  The event will take place at PwC.

At this year’s judging day in The Merrion Hotel were: (from left) Gerard McNaughton, TileStyle; Donal O’Donovan, Independent News & Media; Antonia McTaggart, Facebook; Robert McEvoy, Allianz Ireland; Rachel Hussey, Arthur Cox; Andrew Hetherington, Business to Arts; Petal Pilley, Blue Teapot Theatre Company. Picture: Conor McCabe Photography

The standard of partnerships in the Allianz Business to Arts Awards is continually rising and judges this year were really taken with the quality of activity and thought that went into the shortlisted projects

“Fusing business and the arts facilitates artists and makes both businesses and arts organisations think differently. The Allianz Business to Arts Awards shortlist demonstrates this. There are so many worthwhile projects which have resulted in wonderful experiences and creations that give back to the community in fantastic ways.” – Rachel Hussey, head of business development and client relations at Arthur Cox.

“The teams on the shortlist have real interest in what they’re doing. Staff are invigorated by their involvement in the collaborative projects and the nourishing two-way exchanges are bringing about something more sustainable than was originally envisaged. The consideration of what a community needed or wanted was quite evident in a lot of partnerships. You could see that this was genuine from both the businesses and arts organisations.” – Petal Pilley, CEO and artistic director, Blue Teapot Theatre Company

For first-time judges Rachel Hussey, head of business development and client relations at Arthur Cox and Petal Pilley, CEO and artistic director of Blue Teapot Company, the judging process was an eye-opener in terms of the extent and diversity of business and arts collaboration going on around the country.

“It was a fantastic experience to see the amazing work that is happening. I was so impressed by how partnerships give back to the community, in both innovative and sustainable ways. Even the smallest of businesses can have a really big impact in their communities and can facilitate artists to access wider audiences,” says Hussey.

One of the things that struck Hussey was how imaginative both business and arts partners are in relation to the types of experiences and creations they come up with. “I really like Waterford Walls International Street Art Festival with Colourtrend, as this has made a real and lasting artistic impact on the local community,” she says.

“Children’s Books Ireland [CBI] has also done some really great work around encouraging children to read. A number of businesses have collaborated with CBI across various projects, including KPMG, Brown Bag Films and Coca-Cola.”

Always a big supporter of Irish visual art in particular, Arthur Cox worked closely with Business to Arts two years ago when it moved its headquarters to a new building on Earlsfort Terrace in Dublin. “We had amassed a lot of artworks over the years and the collection wasn’t being displayed in the best way possible. Business to Arts helped us to do that in our new premises,” explains Hussey.

Sustainability in supporting the arts is important to Arthur Cox and Hussey was impressed by the efforts of businesses in the shortlist in this regard. “There are some excellent commissioning practices in relation to working with artists to develop bespoke art for buildings. Businesses are taking part in initiatives seen by a huge variety of people which improve living and working environments in imaginative ways.”

Remarking on the breadth of projects, Pilley noticed a strong emphasis on addressing gender imbalance through art in the Allianz Business to Arts Awards shortlist. “There are more and more collaborative projects in the past few years which invest in the promotion of positive images of women and the advancement of women as emerging artists. In this year’s shortlist, the Female Conductors Programme and Women on Walls were particularly impressive to me.”

Blue Teapot is a relatively small theatre company, which has previously won a number of Allianz Business to Arts Awards. Pilley was the 2014 winner of the TileStyle Bursary for Artists. In this year’s shortlist, she observed that businesses and arts organisations have become much more considered about who they partner with and are putting a lot of effort into finding ‘the right fit’.

“There are some ingenious pairings between businesses and theatre companies which involve healthy risk taking. Businesses are taking a punt and backing innovative projects, such as Irish Rail’s support of ‘A Play for Ireland’ by Fishamble: The New Play Company and Dublin Port Company’s commissioning of Bitter Like a Lemon to produce ‘In our Veins’,” she notes.

This article features in the 2019 Allianz Business to Arts Awards Sunday Independent supplement published on Sept 8th 2019.

Pictured was Garry Ferguson, Managing Partner, Walkers, Walkers photographer in Residence, Kate Nolan and Andrew Hetherington, Chief Executive, Business to Arts with transition year student Genoveva Nemes (16) of CBS Westland Row at the launch of photographic exhibition titled ‘Docklands Story Walks’.

Business to Arts and financial services law firm, Walkers, joined Irish photographer Kate Nolan, the 2019 Walkers Photographer-in-Residence and transition year students from CBS Westland Row to celebrate the completion of the second year of the Walkers Photographer in Residence. The student’s project work was showcased at Walkers offices alongside Walkers staff photography, highlighting the development of their photographic skills together.

Walkers and Business to Arts also announced the winners of the ‘Walkers Stories from the Docklands Photography Competition’. The three competition categories focused on the themes of community, neighbourhood, work and play. Winners included:

• Children of Walkers staff / Students 11 years and under – Julia Kolasa, Rutland NS student
• Children of Walkers staff / Students 12 to 18 years of age – Yung Kien Chong, CBS Westland Row student
• Walkers Staff – Niamh Pender

Walkers staff, family members, and students from local schools in the Dublin Docklands were eligible to enter. The winning photographs will be displayed in the new Walkers offices in the IFSC.

This project builds on the Walkers Photographer-in-Residence programme which is now its second year. In February 2018, Irish photographer Kate Nolan was announced as the Walkers Photographer-in-Residence. The residency includes a series of workshops, where Kate has introduced documentary photography to CBS Westland Row transition year students through ‘story walks’ of the Docklands. The residency supports Business to Arts’ wider programme of activity, which promotes the Arts collaboratively with businesses, artists, audiences and communities.

Garry Ferguson, Managing Partner, Walkers commented:

‘’The photography competition itself is just one component of the Photographer-in-Residence programme which involves our staff, the students of CBS Westland Row and Visual Artist, Kate Nolan in a manner which we believe reflects the ‘Walkers Way’ of working collaboratively in the community. Introducing art through the medium of photography into the Walkers workplace has had many benefits, including the promotion of enhanced communications between our people and those living and being educated in this community and the creation of a shared Docklands vision on the themes which have been the focus of this competition, namely community, neighbourhood, work and play”

At the announcement, Andrew Hetherington, Chief Executive, Business to Arts stated:

‘As we build on our partnership with Walkers and the Docklands Arts Fund, we are very happy to see the collaboration between Kate Nolan, the students of CBS Westland Row and Walkers staff continue to evolve. This programme has enabled participants involved to develop their photographic and creative skills while documenting life within the Docklands area. Taking the beautiful backdrop of Dublin Docklands as inspiration, we were delighted with the response to the Walkers photography competition from both staff and students in the local area ’.

Launching the 2019 Allianz Business to Arts Awards, Sean McGrath, CEO, Allianz; Andrew Hetherington , Chief Executive, Business to Arts & Victoria Mc Cormack, Macnas at Dublin Castle. Picture Conor McCabe Photography.

Today, Business to Arts and Allianz launched the call for nominations for the 2019 Allianz Business to Arts Awards, which champions the unique opportunities that business engagement with the arts provides. At the awards launch, Business to Arts and Allianz encouraged businesses from across Ireland to explore and strengthen their relationships with the cultural community and create meaningful partnerships. Previous award winners include Accenture, Bord Gáis Energy, Dublin Port Company, ESB and Bank of Ireland.

This year marks the 28^th anniversary of the Allianz Business to Arts Awards and Allianz’s 19^th anniversary of involvement and sponsorship of the awards. Allianz is encouraging the business community to become involved again this year and to support and celebrate creative talent across Ireland. There are 11 categories in total focusing on sponsorship, commissioning, CSR initiatives and community engagement as well as mentoring, training and staff programs. The online entry form can be accessed through www.businesstoarts.ie/awards.

This year also sees the 12^th year of the €10,000 Jim McNaughton/TileStyle Bursary, which is open to emerging artist(s) in any art form. Previous winners include Aisling O’Mara (playwright), Clare Monnelly (theatre), pianist Máire Carroll (music), ballet dancer Gearóid Solan (dance) & sculptor Alva Gallagher (visual art).

Sean McGrath, CEO of Allianz Ireland, said:

“The 28^th Allianz Business to Arts Awards represents the crucial importance of the co-creative relationship between businesses and the arts community across Ireland.  Over the last 28 years, we have seen inspiring examples of business and artistic engagement creating truly unique moments of courageous expression for communities and artists with a new voice or message.

Allianz continues to be a strong advocate of creative partnerships between business and the arts, and the courage and dedication it takes to make these initiatives flourish. We look forward to this year’s award nominations and encourage businesses and arts groups throughout the country to get involved.”

Andrew Hetherington, Chief Executive of Business to Arts said:

“In 2019, we look forward to recognising the exceptional creative partnerships that exist throughout Ireland between the business and arts communities. Alongside our partner Allianz, our Awards and mission is to encourage business leaders to consider the arts as a powerful and creative way to enhance community relations and to communicate social issues. We look to recognise these best-in-class relationships on September 3^rd at Bord Gáis Energy Theatre”.

Closing date for applications is Wednesday, May 1st 2019 at 5pm. Go to www.businesstoarts.ie/awards for information on the application process and to complete the online application form.

Sean Reilly, Executive Chairman, McGarrell Reilly unveils ‘Rise’ a new glass sculpture commission installed at the Sharp Building on Hogan Place with artist Alva Gallagher; Photo: Jason Clarke

The McGarrell Reilly Group and Business to Arts have unveiled a new piece of sculpture named ‘Rise’ by artist Alva Gallagher. Gallagher was commissioned to create the new artwork having been selected after an Open Call to Irish and international artists for ‘The Sharp Building Commission’.

The brief to artists was to create an original and innovative sculptural installation in response to unique environment, architecture, historic and cultural references associated with the new building and its location off Hogan Place in Dublin’s South Docklands. ‘Rise’ is a double-height glass sculpture that is visible from both the interior and exterior of The Sharp Building and can be seen by office staff, local viewers and commuters in the Docklands Area.

Award- winning Irish sculptor, Alva Gallagher, is a visual artist whose work involves a continuous exploration of oceanic movements and elements. She is passionate about the sea and mirrors its ferocity and serenity through the manipulation of her chosen mediums (glass and bronze) from their molten to solid states to explore concepts of depth and rhythm. Alva has exhibited extensively. Recent highlights include the Royal Society of Marine Artists Annual Exhibition at the Mall Galleries, London; CAST at The Wayne Art Institute Philadelphia; The Traver Gallery Seattle, USA; and The Saatchi Gallery, London. Her work appears in State, National and International Collections, including The OPW, The National Museum of Ireland Collins Barracks, BMW and in the iconic ‘Gherkin’ building in the city of London.

Alva Gallagher hails from the fishing village of Killybegs, Co. Donegal and said:

“I am so honoured to be the selected artist for The Sharp Building commission and to have my work interwoven into this stunning new landmark building in Dublin’s urban landscape. I am thrilled to have worked along side the Mc Garrell Reilly team, Business to Arts and G&S Stainless Services Ltd and to now see my piece ‘Rise’ ascending within the unique contemporary aesthetic of the Sharp Building as a modern sculptural portrait to signify the evolving future of the City that the Sharp Building exudes.“

Deirdre Reilly, McGarrell Reilly Group states:

“McGarrell Reilly are very proud of the Sharp Building and we decided that it would be fitting to have an impressive work of art to showcase on this prominent street corner. We are delighted and proud to commission the wonderful renowned Irish visual artist, Alva Gallagher, to create an original, fitting and beautiful glass sculpture to showcase in the Sharp Building for the benefit of all who will work here and those passing by on the street.”

Andrew Hetherington, Chief Executive, Business to Arts states:

“We have been so impressed with the approach Alva and McGarrell Reilly have taken with this commission. This beautiful new glass and stainless steel artwork continues McGarrell Reilly’s tradition of incorporating artwork into new buildings during their construction phase. ‘Rise’ is magnificent and those working, living and commuting in the Docklands will be able to experience the ceiling sculpture as they pass the Sharp Building.”

If you are a business interested in commissioning an artist contact hannah@businesstoarts.ie

Eileen Hanratty. Picture by Conor McCabe

Business to Arts are very happy to announce that Eileen Hanratty has been appointed Senior Manager – Membership & Projects. Eileen rejoined Business to Arts in 2016 as Membership & Project Manager having returned from Canada where she worked as Co-ordinator of Annual Programs & Patron Engagement at the Canadian Opera Company and VIP Ticket Executive at the Toronto International Film Festival.  In 2019, after a period of sustained membership growth, she has been promoted to Senior Manager – Membership & Projects.

In this role, Eileen is responsible for developing our Corporate Membership offering. This includes the expansion of our Artist-in-Residence (AR) Programme and the oversight of our advisory services which engage many businesses and individuals in funding quality arts projects.

Eileen’s expertise lies in the areas of high-level member servicing, working with the Business to Arts team to deliver our members’ events programme, and collaboratively working with internal and external stakeholders to enhance sponsorship and CSR strategies. Read more here.

Linkedin

Andrew Hetherington with Aibhlínn Doheny, Music Generation Student from Portlaoise, Sean McGrath, Allianz CEO & Rosaleen Molloy, Music Generation National Director. Picture: Robbie Reynolds

Today, Allianz and Business to Arts published the 2018 Arts, Festivals and Music Sponsorship – Summary Report, following on from the success of the recent 27^th Allianz Business to Arts Awards held at Bord Gáis Energy Theatre in September. The annual report, launched at the Irish Film Institute (IFI), was published by Business to Arts from data supplied by sponsorship and marketing managers from the corporate and cultural sector during the 2018 Allianz Business to Arts Awards campaign. This report adds to the membership organisation’s research and insight services providing an enhanced layer of insight and analysis for sponsors, rights holders and the public about this segment of the sponsorship market.

The report looks at sponsorship objectives that differentiate the arts, festivals and music over other types of sponsorship areas. It looks at sponsorships that are both one-off event relationships or multi-annual partnerships; sponsorship spend between 2017 and 2018, as well as anticipated spend in 2019; methods used to activate relationships and how success is measured.

Key outputs include:

• Sponsors would choose an arts sponsorship over another type of sponsorship because it increases awareness of an organisations brand (80%); engages staff (78%) or creates unique events/experiences for a variety of stakeholders (78%) than other types of sponsorship
• The most popular forms of activating sponsorships in the arts, festivals and music include branded signage, PR, printed literature, advertising (88%), digital campaign’s (72%) and staff engagement activities (67%)
• Sponsors surveyed report that in 2019, 42% will increase their spend
• All respondents were asked to nominate brands that they feel are best-in-class in their engagements with culture, and Accenture, Audi, Dublin Airport, ESB/Electric Ireland, Bord Gáis Energy are among those identified

Andrew Hetherington, Chief Executive of Business to Arts stated:

“It is vital and encouraging, to see that 92% of respondents say that their sponsorship spend will remain the same or increase in 2019. The data analysed reflects a degree of mixed sentiment in the arts, festival and music sponsorship market, particularly as Brexit fast approaches. Trends point to an increase in staff engagement and digital activation of creative partnerships.  In 2019, we look forward to working with our partners to broker, enable and support partnerships.”

Sean McGrath, Chief Executive of Allianz Ireland, said:

“As title sponsor of the Allianz Business to Arts Awards we are delighted to partner the publication of the Arts, Festivals and Music Sponsorship – Summary Report 2018.  We welcome its many insights on the significant collaboration benefits generated when our business and artistic communities collaborate – not just for themselves, but for their communities and for society at large.  Business to Arts is to be commended for brokering, enabling and supporting these partnerships and for having the foresight to collect and publish the experiences, learnings and insights of those who have successfully participated in the 2018 projects.”    

Read the report here.