Allianz Arts & Business NI Awards 2018 Shortlist unveiled

The partnerships making up the 2018 shortlist reflect strong creative connections between the worlds of arts and business. Showcasing the strength and success of commerce and culture when merged, creating something amazing together. The businesses shortlisted range from the worlds of accounting to transport and retail to insurance. Arts entrants cover a diverse variety of art forms ranging from theatre to festival and literature to visual art.

Sean McGrath, CEO Allianz plc remarked: “The 2018 Allianz Arts & Business NI Awards demonstrate again how business and arts organisations have successfully collaborated to create value. We never fail to be impressed by the substantial economic and social dividends that come from all of the nominated engagements. Cultural output not only reflects and defines who we are as a people, but when combined with the genius that exists within our commercial sectors, develops real financial and community benefits for us all.”

Awards will be presented in nine categories, five awards will be presented to the local business community including the prestigious Business of the Year Award, which will be awarded to a business that has excelled through integrating arts & culture through different facets of its business strategy.

Three awards will be presented to the local arts community to include Cultural Fundraiser of the Year, Arts Board Member of the Year and the Arts Award. The Arts award will be 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 and is worth £3,000 to the winning arts organisation. Allianz will present the Allianz Community Art Award, the winner will be presented a prize fund of £2,000.

Mary Nagele, Chief Executive, Arts & Business NI commented: “Many thanks to our judging panel for their valuable time and expertise. As always the standard of entries was incredibly high. We appreciate Allianz’s continued support for these important Awards, which are critical in ensuring these creative arts and business partnerships get the recognition they deserve.”

The judging panel included representatives from the business world and the arts sector and was chaired by Chief Executive of Arts & Business NI, Mary Nagele.

Roisin McDonough, Chief Executive of the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, said: “Congratulations to everyone who has made it through to the shortlist in a very competitive field. Arts & Business NI does excellent work building partnerships between our two sectors and we welcome the opportunity, through the Allianz Arts & Business NI Awards, to celebrate what can be achieved when we combine our strengths, so that others may be inspired to follow.”

The winners will be revealed at the Allianz Arts & Business NI Awards ceremony in January 2018.

Awards Shortlist  Allianz Arts & Business NI
Cultural Branding Award
SHORTLIST
Belfast Photo Festival & Alexander Boyd Displays
Belfast Photo Festival & Victoria Square
Millennium Forum & Specsavers
Young At Art & Translink

Allianz Arts & Business NI
Long Term Partnership Award
SHORTLIST 
Cinemagic & George Best Belfast City Airport
Grand Opera House & Lockton Insurance
Millennium Forum & Richmond Centre
RUA & KPMG

Allianz Arts & Business NI
Cultural Engagement Award
SHORTLIST
Book Trust & Belfast Harbour
Book Trust & SONI
Culture Night Belfast & Belfast Harbour
EastSide Arts & Hewitt & Gilpin Solicitors
Ulster Orchestra with Women's Aid & JTI
Young At Art & Translink

Allianz Arts & Business
NI New Sponsor Award
SHORTLIST
Belfast Photo Festival &Victoria Square
Charles Wood Girls’ Choir & Ulster Carpets
EastSide Arts & Connswater Shopping Centre & Retail Park
Oh Yeah Music Centre & Molson Coors
The MAC & Phoenix Natural Gas
Ulster Orchestra & Ulster Carpets
Young At Art & Ni4kids

Allianz Arts & Business NI
Arts Board Member of Year Award
SHORTLIST 
Stephen Dunlop, Open House Festival
Edward Ferguson, Seacourt Print Workshop
Sophie Hayles, Creative Exchange
Phil Morrow, Young At Art

Allianz Arts & Business NI
Business of the Year Award
Shortlist and Winner announced on the night of the Awards

Allianz Arts & Business NI
Cultural Fundraiser of the Year
Shortlist and Winner announced on the night of the Awards

Allianz Arts & Business
NI Arts Award
Shortlist and Winner announced on the night of the Awards

Allianz Community Art Award
Shortlist and Winner announced on the night of the Awards