Arts & Business Northern Ireland has launched the Allianz Arts & Business NI Awards 2014. Nomination forms are now available to download from the A&B NI website. The nominations have also been emailed to the local arts and business communities. The deadline for completed nominations is Friday 30th August 2013.

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.”

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.

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 in 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 is delighted to pledge its support.”

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

Further information from: www.artsandbusinessni.org.uk

http://www.artscouncil-ni.org/news/2013/news13062013.html