The
Johannesburg City Hall proved an appropriate venue when the sixteen winners of
16th Annual Business Day BASA Awards, supported by Anglo American, were
announced last night.
Nearly
100 years after the landmark building was completed, the cultural heritage it
represents was reaffirmed by the diversity and creativity of the 12 business
and arts partnerships that were celebrated at the event – as well as the
winners in the three categories chosen by the Business and Arts South Africa
board.
Among
the latter was the winner of the Diplomacy in the Arts award - the Embassy of
France. It was honoured for the France-South Africa Seasons, a multi-faceted arts
collaboration between the two countries that started in South Africa in July
2012.
“We’re
thrilled to have grown South Africa’s only awards recognising business arts
partnerships,” comments Business and Arts South Africa CEO, Michelle Constant.
“At
the very core of what we do are successful partnerships that contribute to the
sustainability of the arts but that also benefit both parties in that
relationship.
“This
year, the nominees and the winners once again show that there is real value in
business partnering with the arts to reach their markets, and achieve shared
value.”
“The
BASA Awards are always a powerful reminder to the South African business
community that, just outside their door, is a society filled with an abundance
of different arts,” says Peter Bruce, Business Day Editor-In-Chief.
“Each
year we get a chance to see what happens when businesses, big or small, partner
with projects in this society to create something that has a significant impact
on everyone involved. It’s the best thing in Business Day’s calendar.”
Jack
Ginsberg, a founding patron of The Ampersand Foundation (TAF), received
the Art Champion Award, given to an individual for outstanding achievement in
the encouragement and support of the arts. TAF supports South African artists
and those working in the visual arts with a residency in New York.
The
Distell Foundation was this year’s recipient of the prestigious Chairman’s
Premier Award, awarded at the discretion of the Chairman of Business and Arts
South Africa to celebrate sustained and extraordinary commitment to the arts in
South Africa. Distell Foundation is the umbrella body for Distell’s corporate
citizenship activities, with a strong emphasis on arts and culture.
Mentor
of the Year, supported by Etana Insurance, was awarded to Hilton Lawler for his
work with Assemblage, a body that aims to connect and nurture Joburg’s visual
arts community. This is the second time that Lawler has been named winner in
the category: his work with the Origins
Centre saw Lawler named Mentor of the Year at the 13th Annual Business Day BASA
Awards, supported by Anglo American.
For
the first time there was a double winner in the Youth Development Award
category with the judging panel selecting both Sasol Limited for the South
African National Youth Orchestra and Rand Merchant Bank for the Durban Music
School. And the recognition of Cape
Town’s Alexander Bar & Café for its partnership with the Alexander Upstairs
(a micro-theatre) was yet more proof that a relationship between business and
the arts can come in small, yet highly effective, ways.
This
year’s winners also include two business arts partnerships forged by local
government and municipalities. The Johannesburg
Development Agency won the Increasing Access to the Arts Award for the
Diepsloot Public Artworks Programme while the Arts & Environment Award,
supported by Nedbank, was awarded to the uMngeni Municipality for the Nelson
Mandela Capture Site.
Another
notable win was the Long Term Partnership Award, supported by new sponsor
Stephan Weltz & Co. It went to ArcelorMittal South Africa for its
three-year partnership with the Southern Guild Collectable Design Gallery,
which underscores the benefits of longstanding relationships between business
and the arts.
This
year’s Award ceremony was the last year of sponsorship by Anglo American, and
in celebration of their years of support, Business and Arts South Africa
commissioned a choral work, composed by James Bassingthwaite, which was
performed on the evening by the Mzansi Youth Choir. The work remains as a
legacy and gift for Anglo American.
According
to Constant, “Business and Arts South Africa would like to thank Anglo American
for their many years of engaged support. They have been a wonderful partner to
work with, and we wish them all the best in the future.”
“With
the closing of one door though, another opens, and BASA has great pleasure in
announcing Hollard as the new Supporting Sponsor of the Awards, alongside
Business Day.”
“We are delighted to be supporting the BASA Awards for
the next three years,” says Gail Walters, Head of Group Corporate Affairs at
Hollard. “Hollard aims to be a catalyst
for significant positive and enduring social change through the business we do
and the way in which we do business. Our
investment in the arts and our partnership with BASA specifically, are in line
with our approach to building social and human capital in promoting art and
mentoring emerging artists.”
This
year’s awards were judged by an independent panel of judges that evaluated the
success of each partnership in achieving its objectives and in bringing genuine
value and benefit to both partners. The results were audited by Grant Thornton.
The
judging panel was comprised of CEO of the Mastrantonio Group and BASA Board
member Giovanni Mariano; Fikile Moeti -
Radio DJ , TV presenter, leadership Enthusiast and Social Entrepreneur;
Theresho Selesho - Experiential Marketing Director at Ogilvy and Mather and
Dali Tambo - TV Host, CEO of the National Heritage Project Company& Founder
of Artists Against Apartheid.
16th
Annual Business Day BASA Awards, supported by Anglo American
Winners:
Innovation
Award
PPC
Ltd for Re-imagine Concrete: Suzaan Heyns Spring/Summer 2012
First
Time Sponsor Award
Bidvest
Group Limited for the Opening of the new Wits Art Museum
Increasing
Access to the Arts Award
Johannesburg
Development Agency for the Diepsloot Public Artworks Programme
International
Sponsorship Award
Norges
Musikkorpes Forbund (Norwegian Band Federation) for the Field Band Foundation -
Bands Crossing Borders
Long
Term Partnership Award supported, by Stephan Weltz & CO.
ArcelorMittal South Africa for
Southern Guild Collectable Design Gallery
Arts
& Environment Award, supported by Nedbank
The
uMngeni Municipality for the Nelson Mandela Capture Site
Media
Sponsorship Award
Ukhozi
FM for the Unyaka Wesethembiso Season 2
Single
Strategic Project Award
adidas
Originals South Africa for I ART JOBURG
Small
Business Award
Alexander
Bar & Café - Alexander Upstairs
Sponsorship
in Kind Award
Europcar
for Clowns Without Borders South Africa
Youth
Development Award (2 Winners)
Sasol
Limited for the South African National Youth Orchestra
Rand
Merchant Bank for the Durban Music School
Mentor
of the Year, supported by Etana Insurance
Hilton
Lawler for Assemblage
Diplomacy
in the Arts
The
Embassy of France for the France-South Africa Seasons
Art
Champion Award
Jack Ginsberg
Chairman’s
Premier Award
Distell
Foundation
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