Allianz Arts & Business NI Awards 2014

Arts & Business Northern Ireland has launched the Allianz Arts & Business NI Awards 2014. Joining in the celebrations were Sharon McTaggart, Operations Manager, Allianz, principal sponsor of the Awards and Mary Trainor-Nagele, Chief Executive, Arts & Business NI. Nomination forms are now available to download from the A&B NI website. The nominations have also been emailed extensively to the local arts and business communities. The deadline for completed nominations is Friday 30th August 2013.

Six awards will be presented to businesses who have demonstrated a creative approach to developing mutually beneficial partnerships with the arts throughout Northern Ireland. This includes the Business of the Year Award which was introduced last year. This will be awarded to a business that has excelled through integrating Arts & Culture through different facets of its business strategy.

An additional Business Individual of the Year Award will be presented to an individual who in a voluntary capacity has added outstanding benefits to an arts organisation in a governance or strategic role.

A further two awards will be presented to the arts sector to applaud their work and celebrate their successes. The Arts Award 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. The Arts Individual of the Year Award will be presented to an individual working with an arts organisation who has demonstrated business acumen and excellence in partnerships development. Voting for Arts Individual of the Year Award will take place online. 

Launching the awards, Mary Trainor-Nagele, Chief Executive, Arts & Business NI said: “These Awards are essential in recognising and celebrating the best in creative partnerships between NI arts and private sector businesses. These partnerships have never been so critical, so we are delighted that Allianz have committed to supporting these important Awards for another three years.”

Sharon McTaggart, Operations Manager, Allianz said: “Allianz are very proud to once again be the title sponsor of these prominent awards, which acknowledge positive collaboration between arts and business organisations, benefiting all communities across Northern Ireland.”

The importance of continued private sector support for the arts was reinforced by Nick Livingston, Director of Strategic Development at the Arts Council, saying: “A growing number of local businesses are recognising the benefits that the creative arts can bring to their organisation. It is encouraging that in the past year, Arts & Business NI has invested over £170,000 to supporting such partnerships via its Investment programme. Over the last five years the programme, supported by DCAL through the Arts Council, has invested £1 million; this is against supporting business funding of over £5.2 million.The Allianz Arts & Business NI Awards give recognition to some of those valuable relationships and the Arts Council of Northern Ireland is delighted to pledge its support.”

The Awards ceremony for The Allianz Arts & Business NI Awards will be held in February 2014.

The Arts & Business NI Awards are sponsored by Allianz. The partnership is now in its eighth year.

Calls for nominations fall into the following categories:

A&B NI Community Award
Awarded to a partnership that has encouraged specific community engagement with the arts, or has made a significant contribution to regeneration or sustainable growth.

A&B NI Cultural Branding Award
Awarded to a partnership that reinforces the branding and marketing activity of a business through the use of culture.

A&B NI Sustained Partnership Award
Awarded to an established, on-going partnership that continues to set standards in creative arts-business collaborations. 

A&B NI Young People Award
In recognition of a partnership that has harnessed the power of the arts to engage young people. The winning business will demonstrate a dynamic connection with youth through the arts. 

A&B Employee Engagement Award
In recognition of a partnership that involves employees in the arts and incorporates creativity and innovation into the workplace.  

Business Individual of the Year Award
Awarded to an individual who has added outstanding benefit to an arts organisation in a governance role through a formal voluntary placement such as Board Bank, Young Professionals or other volunteering.

Business of the Year Award
Awarded to a business organisation that has excelled through integrating Arts & Culture throughout different facets of its business strategy.

A&B NI Arts Award
Awarded to the arts organisation, which has consistently looked to develop and pioneer new ideas, whilst demonstrating a progressive and creative approach to business partnership.

Arts Individual of the Year Award
Awarded to an individual working within an arts organisation who has demonstrated business acumen and excellence in partnership development.