Business & Arts Partnerships Awarded

Australia’s best business and arts partnerships have been announced as part of the Creative Partnerships Australia National Awards.

Carol Schwartz AM, Chair, Creative Partnerships Australia and Betty Amsden OAM at the 2013 National Awards dinner.

The Creative Partnerships Australia Awards recognise outstanding collaborations between the arts, business and philanthropic sectors to achieve outcomes for arts and health, accessibility, environmental sustainability, philanthropy and volunteering.

The major Toyota Community Award, marking 10 years since the Award first began with AbaF, was awarded to AWESOME Arts Australia and LWP Property Group (WA) for connecting people, particularly families, in newly built communities through inclusive cultural activities, assisting in creating vibrant and healthy communities in Western Australia.

Indigenous arts programs received three of the nine Awards – the Creative Partnerships Philanthropy Program Award, the Woodside Better Business Award and the Creative Partnerships Arts & Health Award.

Three outstanding leaders within the arts, business and philanthropy sectors were also acknowledged:

• Betty Amsden OAM was recognised for outstanding leadership, advocacy and example that has encouraged increased philanthropic giving to Australia’s cultural life by being awarded the Creative Partnerships Philanthropy Leadership Award.
• Dr Helen Nugent AO was recognised for leadership fostering increased business investment in and support for the arts with the Richard Pratt Business Arts Leadership Award.
• Lynda Dorrington was awarded the Dame Elisabeth Murdoch Arts Leadership Award for demonstrating vision, commercial acumen and strategic thinking in engagement with business and by encouraging increased giving to the arts.

Minister for the Arts, Senator George Brandis said the Creative Partnerships Australia Awards celebrate the important contribution the business community and donors make to Australia’s dynamic arts sector.

“The Awards recognise successful business-arts partnerships and the crucial role private sector support plays in building a strong, sustainable future for Australia’s cultural sector,” Senator Brandis said.

“Creative Partnerships Australia’s suite of innovative programs will encourage more businesses and individuals to share their time and expertise with arts organisations for the benefit of all Australians.”

Fiona Menzies, CEO of Creative Partnerships Australia, said: “The partnerships which our organisation works to foster, facilitate and celebrate create long term cultural, social and economic impact for communities throughout Australia.  They create well-being within our communities, and connect people from diverse backgrounds and cultures, in turn strengthening and contributing to our nation’s collective culture as captured through the arts.

“Critically, these partnerships also create a healthy and sustainable future for Australia’s arts and creative industries.

“In addition to diversifying their funding streams through such partnerships, artists and arts organisations are building their business and development skills through the invaluable networks, advice and expertise that our business mentors, councillors and partners offer.

“This development assists our artists in sharing their work throughout the world, furthering Australia’s well-earned reputation for innovation and creativity.

“I congratulate all Award winners, and thank our sponsors and partners for their support in delivering the Awards, in particular the Australian Government through the Ministry for the Arts.”

All state and national Creative Partnership Award winners are featured in the 2013 Gold Book  available to download via the Creative Partnerships Australia website.