Arts & Business NI has announced the full shortlist for their upcoming digital awards, taking place on 17 June 2021 from 6.00 - 8.30pm in a free digital event.
Arts & Business NI works to forge partnerships between the business and arts sectors in Northern Ireland. Its awards ceremony celebrates stand-out partnerships and projects between the cultural and private sector in NI from the preceding year.
Mary Nagele, CEO, Arts & Business NI commented: “It was fantastic to receive a record number of applications this year, particularly in light of the challenges presented by COVID-19.
"We strongly believe that the volume and quality of submissions is clear evidence of the value placed by both sectors on these creative collaborations. We know there is a real appetite, shared by ourselves, to recognise and celebrate their achievements of the past 18 months. We can’t wait to showcase them on our Awards night in June.”
The full shortlist comprised of 12 categories is detailed below. Register for the free digital event before 26 May here.
Brand Storytelling
Awarded to a partnership that engaged the arts to strategically and creatively communicate the organisations’ brand and story, thus enabling them to creatively connect with their target markets.
Shortlist:
• Bounce Culture & Baker Tilly Mooney Moore
• Big Telly Theatre Company & Cathedral Quarter BID
• Cahoots NI & The Junction
• Cinemagic & Bank of Ireland
• Docs Ireland & TG4
• Royal Ulster Academy & KPMG
• Young at Art & U105
• Seedhead Arts & Community Arts Partnership & Dillon Bass
Creative Community Engagement
Awarded to a partnership where the business used the power of the arts to forge dynamic new connections with their community.
Shortlist:
• Cinemagic & George Best Belfast City Airport
• Belfast International Arts Festival & Belfast Harbour
• Booktrust NI & SONI
• Prime Cut Productions & Clanmil Housing
• Cahoots NI & The Junction
• Eastside Arts & Connswater Shopping Centre
• Young at Art & CQ BID
Mental Health & Wellbeing
Awarded to a partnership where the business used the power of the arts to forge dynamic new connections with their community.
• Belfast Exposed & Northern Health and Social Care Trust
• Place to Wonder & Heron Bros
• c21 + Doyle Shipping Group
• Cinemagic & George Best Belfast City Airport
• Millennium Forum & Diamond Corrugated
• Commedia of Errors & Radius Housing
• Strand Arts Centre & Specsavers Connswater
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New Sponsor
Awarded to a business that has developed a new partnership with the arts to creatively meet its business objectives.
Shortlist:
• R-Space & Fusion Antibodies
• Belfast International Arts Festival & Belfast Harbour
• Oh Yeah Music Centre & Translink
• Cahoots NI & The Junction
• Cinemagic & Bank of Ireland
• Rainbow Factory & Phoenix Natural Gas
• Royal Ulster Academy & Hambly & Hambly Gallery
Staff Engagement Award
Awarded to an organisation that prioritised connecting and uplifting its staff and their families by harnessing the power of the arts.
Shortlist:
• Belfast Exposed & Northern Health and Social Care Trust
• Keith Acheson & Citi
• Lyric Theatre & FinTrU (staff)
• Belfast Ensemble & Herbert Smith Freehills
• Young at Art & Feidlen Clegg Bradley Studios
• Emer Maguire & Citi
Inspirational Trustee
Inspirational Trustee is awarded to an individual who, in a voluntary capacity, has added outstanding benefit to an arts organisation in a governance role, perhaps through a formal professional development placement such as Board Bank or Young Professionals on Arts Boards.
Shortlist:
• Neil McClure, The Portico of Ards
• Louise Rossington and Adam Knight (Co-Chairs), Theatre and Dance NI
• Julie Mc Gowan, University of Atypical
• Rosie Timoney, Bruiser Theatre Company
• Betty Brown (CEO), Royal Ulster Academy
• Shona McCarthy, Oh Yeah Music Centre
• Stephen Beggs, Tinderbox
Business of Year Award
Awarded to a business that has excelled through integrating Arts & Culture through different facets of its business strategy.
Shortlist
• Citi
• Connswater Shopping Centre
• George Best Belfast City Airport
• Translink
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Arts Organisation of the Year
Presented to a local arts organisation which has consistently sought to develop and pioneer new ideas, whilst demonstrating a progressive and creative approach to business partnership. The winner of this category also receives £3,000.
Shortlist:
• Royal Ulster Academy
• Cahoots NI
• Belfast Exposed
Forestside Choice
This award recognises the work of a stand-out arts organisation and includes a financial investment of £1,000 for the category winner.
Shortlist:
• Cinemagic
• Cahoots NI
• Portico of Ards
A&BNI Choice: Most Creative Response/Adaptation to Pandemic
Awarded to an agile arts organisation who took the challenges of COVID-19 and used then to strategically adapt or inform their work, ultimately continuing to stay true to their purpose/mission.
Shortlist:
• Arts Care
• Belfast Exposed
• University of Atypical
• Tinderbox
• Commedia of Errors
Arts Innovator
This award showcases a pioneering arts practitioner, who brought a particularly unique and inventive approach to their work during 2020
Shortlist:
• Stephen Kelly, C21 Theatre Company
• Paul McEneaney, Cahoots NI
• Ray Giffen, The Duncairn
Above & Beyond
Awarded to an individual in the business sector who has not only actively engaged with the arts sector, but gone above the call of duty to assist arts organisations/practitioners in 2020.
Shortlist:
• Brendan Mulgrew, MW Advocate
• Mark Case, Whitenoise
• Peter McVerry, U105
Register for the free digital event before 26 May here.
