Nashua Pietermaritzburg and The Witness newspaper among the
KZN finalists.
The unique shared value created by business and arts
partnerships is amply demonstrated by the nearly 60 finalists in the 17th
Annual Business Day BASA Awards, partnered by Hollard.
Finalists in the 12 categories that were open for entry
reflect an increasing recognition by businesses of all sizes of the role of
mutually beneficial, equitable and sustainable business-arts partnerships.
Whether it’s smaller businesses, like Trainiac SA’s strategy
alignment and visualisation project for the Hillbrow Theatre Project or Buz
Publicity’s pro-bono media sponsorship of Assitej SA, or sizable partnerships,
for instance Bank of America’s sponsorship of Gerald Sekoto: Song For Sekota at the Wits Art Museum or Samsung
Electronics Africa’s support for the Pan African fashion design event, Amaze
Africa, this year’s finalists showcase the different and exciting ways that
business and arts partnerships have manifested between January and December
2013 .
Another striking aspect of this year’s BASA Awards is the
wider geographical spread of finalists, with a strong showing by arts and
business partnerships in KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape. Among these are
the nomination of Pam Golding Properties Kynsna for the Knysna Literary
Festival in the First Time Sponsor category; Siemens’ sponsorship of the Tree of Wisdom at Mandela School of
Science & Technology in Mvezo; and Nashua Pietermaritzburg’s support of
Msunduzi Pietermaritzburg Tourism’s Art
in the Park event, one of the finalists in the Arts in the Environment
category, supported by Nedbank.
The Long-Term Partnership Award, supported by Stephan Welz
& Co, rewards sustained arts-business partnerships and is once more
underlined by the nomination of several past winners.
These include Sasol for the SASOL Free State/Northern Cape
Schools Festival, Standard Bank of South Africa Limited for the Standard Bank
Jazz Festival, Grahamstown and Rand Merchant Bank for its support of the
National School of the Arts Festival of Fame and The Forgotten Angle Theatre
Collaborative.
Judges for the 17th Annual Business Day BASA Awards,
partnered by Hollard are CEO of the Mastrantonio Group Giovanni Marian
(chairman); media consultant and editor of Destiny Man Kojo Baffoe; Sunday
Independent arts critic Mary Corrigall; independent arts consultant Nicky du
Plessis; television host, arts advocate and CEO of the National Heritage
Project Company Dali Tambo; 5fm DJ Fikile Moeti; Experiential Marketing
Director at Ogilvy and Mather Thresho Selesho and academic and practising
artist, Roelof Petrus van Wyk.
“I believe that arts and culture are manifestations of our nation's
soul,” comments Gianni Mariano, chairman of the judging panel. “Business support
for the arts creates the fabric of our society. As Business and Arts South
Africa, we are proud that through the BASA awards we can recognise the
excellence where business and arts meet.”
“Every year, it gets harder and harder to judge the BASA
Awards with the calibre of entries,” comments Kojo Baffoe, editor of Destiny
Man. “It is always heartening to see the real commitment that parts of
corporate and business South Africa are making towards building and sustaining
the arts in this country. This is our soul, and business should be – and
looking at the BASA Awards, is – an integral part of. More can always be done
but I do believe we are on the right track.”
Winners in the 12 categories along with the Art Champion and
Chairman’s Premier Awards will be presented at a gala ceremony in Johannesburg
on August 25.
The independent panel of judges evaluated the success of
each partnership in achieving its objectives and in bringing genuine value and
benefit to both partners. The Awards are audited by Grant Thornton.
For more information call BASA on 011 447 2295 or email info@basa.co.za or go to www.basa.co.za
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