26 January 2012

The Allianz Arts & Business NI Awards 2012 - Winners Announced ........

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The Allianz Arts & Business NI Awards 2012

Arlene Foster, MLA, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Investment, recognised the increasing importance of partnerships between commerce and culture saying: “Retaining existing customers and attracting new orders is crucial if Northern Ireland firms are to increase their competitiveness on the global stage. Sharing knowledge, experience and skills, has been proven to deliver significant advantages to industry. Partnership between our business and cultural sectors is therefore key to growing a vibrant and dynamic economy for Northern Ireland. By encouraging similar collaborative practices across both business and arts, benefits to both sectors can be maximised.”

Presenting the Allianz Arts & Business NI Awards Paul McCann, Allianz, congratulated the partnerships and all the winners saying: “All of these creative partnerships demonstrate just how new perspectives are opened and new initiatives come to fruition in the workplace when artistic engagement begins. Congratulations to all this year’s Award winners and to all those partnerships who showcase precisely just how successful arts and business ventures can be.”

Recognising the success of all the partnerships, Mary Trainor-Nagele, Chief Executive, Arts & Business Northern Ireland commented: “The partnerships honoured here tonight are an amazing testament to the benefits of arts, business partnerships. Many congratulations to all our winners and their fantastic achievements.”

The importance of continued private sector support for the arts was reinforced by Bob Collins, Chairman of the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, saying: “A growing number of local businesses are recognising the benefits that the creative arts can bring to their organisation, helping them to flourish and grow in new ways. The Allianz Art & Business NI Awards gives recognition to some of those valuable relationships and the Arts Council of Northern Ireland is delighted to once again pledge its support to the scheme.”

Arts & Business NI kicked off their 25th Anniversary year by celebrating in style at the Lyric Theatre, Belfast as 5 businesses, 2 individuals and 1 prestigious arts organisation celebrated their success at the Allianz Arts & Business NI Awards 2012.

The Awards showcase examples of excellence and the delivery of tangible business benefits with winning partnerships coming from across the spectrum of Northern Ireland business and arts sectors.

The importance of a sustained level of investment in cultural branding saw Belfast Bred venues & Kabosh partnership lift the Allianz Arts & Cultural Branding Award with Kabosh who also scooped the coveted Arts Awards which is accompanied by a cash prize of £2,000.

The banking industry celebrated success with Northern Bank & Lyric Theatre and Ulster Bank & Ulster Bank Belfast Festival at Queen’s picking up Employee Engagement and Community Engagement Awards respectively.

Arts Individual of the Year Award, recognises and acknowledges the work of an individual within an arts organisation who has demonstrated business acumen and excellence in partnership development. Sheila Sloan, Chair, Belfast Music Society collected the award for her role in securing long term sponsorships for the organisation. Sheila’s efforts have made a huge difference to the Belfast Music Society which is stronger than ever, thanks to her hard work and dedication.

WINNERS Announced ........
Allianz Arts & Business & 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

SHORTLIST
Weavers Court &Moving on Music
Westwood Shopping Centre & Cinemagic
Ulster Bank & Ulster Bank Belfast Festival at Queen’s
Belfast Harbour Commissioners & Ulster Orchestra
WINNER
Ulster Bank & Ulster Bank Belfast Festival at Queen’s

Allianz Arts & Business Cultural Branding Award
Awarded to a partnership that reinforces the branding and marketing activity of a business through the use of culture.

SHORTLIST
Jameson & QFT (Queen’s Film Theatre)
Molson Coors & Coors Lite Open House Festival
Belfast Bred Venues & Kabosh
Northern Bank & The Lyric
The OUTLET & Young at Art
WINNER
Belfast Bred Venues & Kabosh

Allianz Arts & Business Professional Development Award
Awarded to an individual who has added outstanding benefit to an arts organisation in a governance role through a formal voluntary placement

SHORTLIST
Caroline Wilson, McKinty & Wright Solicitors at Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival
Joris Minne, JPR at the MAC
Claire McNally, Cleaver Fulton Rankin Solicitors at Belfast Print Workshop
Cathy Law, Cathy Law Communications at Replay Theatre Company
WINNER
Joris Minne

Allianz Arts & Business Sustained Partnership Award
Awarded to an established, on-going partnership that continues to set standards in creative arts-business collaborations

SHORTLIST
JTI & Ulster Orchestra
Patton Group & Ulster Orchestra
Milligan Reside Larkin & Sticky Fingers
Northern Bank & Cahoots NI
WINNER
Patton Group & Ulster Orchestra

Allianz Arts & Business 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

SHORTLIST
Weavers Court & Moving on Music
Patton Group & Ulster Orchestra
Belfast Harbour Commissioners & Grand Opera House
Diageo & Replay Theatre Company
WINNER
Belfast Harbour Commissioners & Grand Opera House

Allianz Arts & Business Employee Engagement Award
Awarded to a partnership that involves employees in the arts and incorporates creativity and innovation into the workplace.

SHORTLIST
EMO & Grand Opera House
Victoria Square & Cinemagic International Film and Television Festival for Young People
Coca Cola HBC Northern Ireland & Cinemagic International Film and Television Festival for Young People
Northern Bank & The Lyric
WINNER
Northern Bank & The Lyric

Allianz Arts & Business - Arts Individual of the Year Award
This Award recognises and acknowledges the work of an individual within an arts organisation who has demonstrated business acumen and excellence in partnership development.

SHORTLIST
Paul Bosco McEneaney, Founder member & Artistic Director, Cahoots NI
Michael Ockwell, Chief Executive, Grand Opera House
Grainne Powell, Artistic Director, Sticky Fingers
Sheila Sloan, Chair, Belfast Music Society
Heather Wright, Funding Officer, Ulster Orchestra
WINNER
Sheila Sloan, Chair, Belfast Music Society

Allianz Arts & Business Arts Award
SHORTLIST
Cahoots NI
Cinemagic International Film and Television Festival for Young People
Coors Lite Open House Festival
Grand Opera House
Kabosh
Lyric Theatre
Moving on Music
QFT (Queen’s Film Theatre)
Replay Productions
Sticky Fingers
Ulster Bank Belfast Festival at Queen’s
Ulster Orchestra
Young at Art
WINNER
Kabosh