Allianz Arts & Business NI Awards 2018 - launched

Arts & Business Northern Ireland has launched the Allianz Arts & Business NI Awards for 2018. The Awards celebrate the best examples of arts and business creative partnerships and the outstanding achievements of these collaborations throughout Northern Ireland. Arts & Business NI are encouraging entries from business and arts partnerships that took place between 1 September 2016 and 31 August 2017. 

Launching the Awards were Mary Nagele, Chief Executive, Arts & Business NI and Helen Hutchinson, Business Development Executive of Allianz, who are long term principal sponsor of the Awards.

Mary Nagele, Chief Executive, Arts & Business NI said: “The Allianz Arts & Business NI Awards in January 2018 will shine the spotlight on arts, business partnerships that have created high quality innovative collaborations at a local level. The Awards are an important showcase for the local cultural and business sectors and we thank Allianz for their continued support as our Principal Sponsor.”

Helen Hutchinson, Business Development Executive, Allianz said: “Once again Allianz are very proud to be the title sponsor of these prestigious awards which recognise the positive collaborations between arts and business organisations. These valuable relationships bring benefit to the arts, to business and to communities and it is fantastic to see the creativity and effort put into each of the nominations.” 

Nomination forms are now available to download from the A&B NI website and deadline for completed nominations is noon, Friday 22nd September 2017. 

The importance of continued private sector support for the arts was reinforced by Roisin McDonough, Chief Executive,Arts Council of Northern Ireland, saying “Our two sectors have a great deal to offer each other. There is a range of good reasons why businesses might want to be associated with the creativity and innovation of the arts, and the arts sector certainly benefits from the investment and the business strength that these partnerships deliver. The Arts Council appreciates the generous commitment given to the arts by the local business community, and we are delighted to support these awards, which celebrate and promote the successful and productive partnerships developed in Northern Ireland.”

Five awards are open for entry with three additional Awards presented on the evening for Cultural Fundraiser of the Year, the Business of the Year and the Arts Award.

Business of the Year Award will be awarded to a business that has excelled through integrating Arts & Culture through different facets of its business strategy.

The Arts Award, worth £3,000 is presented to a local arts organisation which has consistently looked to develop and pioneer new ideas, whilst demonstrating a progressive and creative approach to a business partnership.

Allianz will present an additional Community Arts Award in the amount of £2,000, awarded to a local community project with a cultural emphasis which has been nominated by an Allianz staff member.

The Awards ceremony for the Allianz Arts & Business NI Awards will be held in January 2018.

Categories open for Entry:

1. Cultural Engagement
   Awarded to a partnership where the business uses the power of the arts to incorporate creativity and innovation into the workplace or to engage with the wider community.
2. Cultural Branding 
   Awarded to a partnership where culture and creativity is used in branding and marketing activity and is embedded in the identity of a business.
3. New Sponsor
   Awarded to a business who has developed a new partnership with the arts to meet its business objectives. 
4. Long-Term Partnership 
   Awarded to a partnership maintained for over 3 years and continuing to set standards in creative arts-business collaborations. 
5. Arts Board Member of the Year 
   Awarded to an individual who, in a voluntary capacity, has added outstanding benefit to an arts organisation in a governance role, perhaps through a formal professional development placement such as Board Bank or Young Professionals on Arts Boards.

Deadline for completed forms and supporting evidence is 22 September 2017, 12.00 noon. Email to: [email protected]  Follow the Awards journey on twitter #AABNIAwards