RECORD ENTRIES FOR BUSINESS AND ARTS AWARDS

Entries to the 13th annual Business Day BASA Awards, supported by Anglo American, are up by 40%, highest in the awards history.

Joining this year’s judging panel are Jay Pather (chairperson of the National Arts Festival and associate professor UCT), Lisebo Mokhesi (co-founder of architectural and interior design consultancy INK) and Independent art consultant Nicki du Plessis. Completing the panel are existing BASA judges Andrew Human (Loerie Awards MD ) Dr Ivan May (CEO of the Constitution Hill Trust), Cheryl Carolus (chairperson of Peotona Holdings), and Gordon Cook (co-founder and School Navigator for Vega The Brand Communications School and The Imagination Lab), who is chairing the judging panel.

The panel will narrow the entries down to the top 3 in each of the 12 categories; the 13th category – the Chairman’s Award - is made at the discretion of the Chairman of the Business and Arts South Africa Board and recognises sustained and extraordinary commitment to the arts in South Africa by a business.

Commenting on the entries, BASA CEO Michelle Constant said, “It is encouraging that there has been so much new interest and participation in this year’s awards, especially when one considers that it is against the backdrop of a hugely challenging business environment.”

This year’s entries cover a broad spectrum of art disciplines - visual arts, dance, theatre, physical performance, music, architecture, fashion and design - in the following categories: Innovation; First-Time Sponsor; Increasing Access to the Arts; International Sponsorship; Sustainable Partnership; Media Sponsorship; Single Strategic Project; Sponsorship In Kind; Small Business; Youth Development; Art Champion, and Mentor of the Year Award

The finalists in the Business Day BASA Awards, supported by Anglo American will be announced on July 19 with the winners being awarded at the gala evening on August 30. For more information go to www.basa.co.za