Legal & General was named Business of the Year at the Arts & Business Cymru (A&B Cymru) Awards, and commended as a 'model of excellence' for its work with the arts.
The Awards, held at the Wales Millennium Centre, recognise the best examples of partnerships between the arts and businesses in Wales. This year winning entries include projects from the sponsorship of Urdd Gobaith Cymru by Windpower Wales to an outreach literary programme for young offenders from the Hay Festival and security firm G4S. Legal & General received the top business award alongside Artes Mundi, which won the Arts Award, and Samantha James of Veolia Water Outsourcing who scooped Individual of the Year.
"The Awards are the pinnacle of our work throughout the year and reading the nomination forms is always a reminder of the many exciting partnerships that bring to life the ethos of A&B Cymru. The creativity of the arts and the vision and commitment of the businesses in Wales never ceases to astonish me."
Rachel Jones, Director of Arts & Business Cymru
The latest research from Arts & Business, published in April, shows that Welsh business investment in the arts has risen to £19.3 million - an increase of 14.6% on the previous year.
Figures from UK-wide research by A&B show that for the first time UK businesses name staff development as the most important factor in supporting the arts. 86% of respondents stated that staff development was of importance to them, against 75% agreeing that sponsorship is important.
The judges were unanimous in naming Legal & General Business of the Year due to the breadth and quality of its arts partnerships.
Its work includes the sponsorship of the Hijinx Theatre, Artes Mundi, National Museum Wales and the Wales Millennium Centre. Its commitment to the arts also forms a major part of its commitment to the community.
Its support of theatre group Odyssey enables people with learning difficulties to perform alongside professional actors, while its partnership with the Teenage Mams magazine project, now in its fifth year, gives a voice to young people. As well as producing a magazine, Teenage Mams offers peer mentoring and support for young fathers in learning and personal development.
The company was also praised for its emphasis on staff development, reflected in the number of employees who transfer their skills and knowledge to the arts through A&B Cymru's Professional Development Programmes.
Rachel Jones continued:
"Legal & General is a very deserving winner. The business' vision and courage in investing in a wide variety of arts projects across South Wales has earned it a reputation of being an outstanding corporate citizen. Its projects consistently enrich communities, making a real difference to the areas from which its staff and customers are drawn."
The 2009 Awards, commissioned from North Wales-based artist Andrew Coomber
Arts & Business Cymru Awards Winners 2009
Individual of the Year
Winner: Samantha James, Veolia Water Outsourcing Ltd / Zoom Cymru
Finalist: Carl Grainger, The Information Network / Welsh Sinfonia
Finalist: Ian Marsden, Glaze Away / Ty Newydd Writers' Centre
Arts, Business & Brand Identity
Winner: Aaron & Partners / Clwyd Theatr Cymru
Finalist: Gerald Eve / Artes Mundi
Finalist: Sequence / Welsh National Opera
Arts, Business & the Community
Winner: G4S - HMP & YOI Parc / Hay Festival of Literature & the Arts
Finalist: Atradius / Valleys Kids
Finalist: Liberty Stadium / Pippins Designs
Arts, Business & Young People
Winner: Barclays plc / Sherman Cymru / It's My Shout
Finalist: Carillion / Ty Newydd Writers' Centre
Finalist: St David's Partnership / Arts Mundi
Arts & Small Business
Winner: Windpower Wales / Urdd Gobaith Cymru
Finalist: Clogau Gold / Faenol Festival Trust
Finalist: Gardner Salisbury Chartered Accountants / North Wales International Music Festival
Arts, Business & the Environment
Winner: UES / Wales Millennium Centre
Finalist: BSkyB / Hay Festival of Literature & the Arts
Finalist: Legal & General / National Museum Wales
Arts, Business & Employees
Winner: Dwr Cymru / Glenn Edwards
Finalist: Admiral / Riverfront Arts Centre
Finalist: Eversheds / Tim Rhys Evans
Arts, Business & Long Term Support
Winner: Royal Mail / BBC National Orchestra of Wales
Finalist: Legal & General / Hijinx Theatre
Finalist: Legal & General / Rhondda Cynon Taf Community Arts
Business of the Year
Winner: Legal & General
Finalist: Barclays
Finalist: Royal Mail
Legal & General Arts Award
Winner: Artes Mundi
Finalist: Hay Festival of Literature & the Arts
Finalist: Sherman Cymru
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