Business to Arts launched the call for Westmeath nominations for the annual Business to Arts awards to join previous local winners of the 2016 Allianz Community Arts Award, BNP Paribas and Helium Arts Westmeath.
The awards champion businesses, artists and arts organisations across the country 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 in local communities during the pandemic.
Next year 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 Ealion, The Irish Times, TileStyle and An Post.
There are nine 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. 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
Jim McNaughton Perpetual Award for Best Commissioning Practice
Best Philanthropic Support to the Arts supported by the Arts Council
Jim McNaughton / TileStyle €10,000 Bursary for Artists
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.
The closing date for applications is Wednesday, December 16, at 5pm. Go to www.businesstoarts.ie/awards for information on the application process and to complete the online application form.
