Business to Arts launched the call for Galway nominations for the 30th annual Business to Arts Awards (2022 ) to join previous local winners Galway International Arts Festival & Flogas, recipients of the Best Use of Creativity in the Community Award (2021 ).
The Awards, now in their 30th year, champion businesses, artists and arts organisations across the country that work together in areas such as sponsorship, commissioning, philanthropy and CSR programmes, and more. 2022 is a landmark year in the Awards’ history and also represents the highest level of monetary support to the arts offered with €25,000 available through bursaries and awards across the country.
The Awards celebrate the power of partnerships between two sectors that can generate learning, wellbeing, joy and innovation during times of hardship. At the awards launch, Business to Arts and the awards partners encouraged businesses and philanthropists to look to the cultural sector for inspiration and support in providing engaging, insightful and enjoyable experiences both within and outside of the workplace. Most recent research conducted by Business to Arts in 2020/21 among corporate sponsors of the arts in Ireland reveals that:
· 2019/2020 saw a huge €9.68m invested in the arts
· The majority of sponsors now cite staff engagement as their primary reason for sponsoring the arts (70% )
· Commitments to multi-annual (3 – 5 year ) partnerships more than doubled during Covid-19 rising from 9% to 22%
· The average spend on an arts partnership has increased 33% year-on-year
Now in its 13th year, the €10,000 Jim McNaughton/TileStyle Bursary, is open to emerging artist(s ) in any art form. The inaugural year of the ‘Accenture Digital Innovation in Art’ Bursary will offer €10,000 to an artist whose work is created digitally and showcases how harnessing the combination of technology and human ingenuity can produce new perspectives and approaches to art. The daa €5,000 Arts Award honours an arts organisation in recognition of its effective and imaginative collaboration with a business. Additionally, the Best Philanthropic Support to the Arts award, supported by the Arts Council, recognises outstanding examples of sustainable and impactful arts philanthropy.
There are 11 categories in total focusing on sponsorship, commissioning, CSR initiatives and community engagement as well as mentoring, training, philanthropy, and staff programmes. The online application form can be accessed through www.businesstoarts.ie/awards Previous award winners include Iarnród Éireann/Irish Rail, An Post, Flogas, Grant Thornton, Dublin Port Company, Irish Film Institute, and the Naughton Foundation.
As well as arts sponsorship and philanthropic support to the arts sector, the Awards recognise examples of arts and business organisations working together in other areas such as mentoring, training, events, staff engagement or development, commissioning artists, CSR initiatives, community engagements etc.
1. Best Large Sponsorship (value over €25,000 cash or in-kind ) supported by Arthur Cox
2.Best Small Sponsorship (value €25,000 or under, cash or in-kind )
3.Best Long-Term Partnership (3 years or more ) supported by The Irish Times
4. Best Use of Creativity in the Community supported by Irish Life
5. Best Use of Creativity in the Workplace supported by ESB
6.Best Philanthropic Support to the Arts supported by the Arts Council
7.Jim McNaughton Perpetual Award for Best Commissioning Practice supported by TileStyle
8Jim McNaughton/TileStyle €10,000 Bursary for Commissioned Artists
9Accenture Digital Innovation in Art €10,000 Bursary
10/11. Judges’ Special Recognition Award for Portfolio of Arts Sponsorship supported by Accenture and the daa €5,000 Arts Award will also be awarded on the evening of the awards.
Clare Duignan, Chair of this year’s judging panel and Board Member of Business to Arts said: ‘The 30th anniversary of the Business to Arts Awards ceremony will combine physical with virtual to celebrate the very best in creative partnerships from the last 18 months. As we emerge and recover from the effects of pandemic it is vital to celebrate new, innovative, and sustained corporate partnerships that support artistry, creativity, and society. In our work, we are increasingly seeing business organisations connect with important issues around sustainability, equality, technology, and wellbeing by engaging with the arts, and we hope to see this reflected in this year’s nominations.’
Closing date for applications is Tuesday, April 26th 2022 at 5pm. Go to www.businesstoarts.ie/awards for information on the application process and to complete the online application form.
