A&B Cymru Awards 2016
Perfect Partnerships
Sponsored by
The best creative partnerships between business and the arts were recognised at the 23rd annual Arts & Business Cymru Awards ceremony, sponsored by Valero, at Wales Millennium Centre on 14 May. The winners, ranging from individual supporters to major companies, received trophies specially commissioned from mother and son artists, Sue Hiley Harris and Owen Harris. Acting stars Rakie Ayola, Luke Bailey, Stella’s Di Botcher, Charles Dale from BBC 1’s Casualty and Suzanne Packer presented the awards to the category winners along with opera singer Rebecca Evans, the former Royal harpist, Hannah Stone and designer turned conservationist, Anna Ryder Richardson. Guests at the black tie ceremony were entertained by the dance group A3 and the multi-talented quartet, Stringfever.
The Awards encourage, acknowledge and celebrate exemplary partnerships between the private sector and the arts and reflect the broad spectrum of work undertaken by A&B Cymru across the country. The winners included businesses ranging from an independent Cardiff city centre club to energy companies, housing association and a Welsh university. Each had clearly defined objectives for partnering the arts – enhancing its brand, reaching a specific target market, playing an active part in the community or training and developing its staff.
The categories were sponsored by key Welsh organisations and this year’s winners are:
Arts, Business & Brand Identity, sponsored by Great Western Railway:
Winner University of Wales Trinity St David for its partnership with Wales Millennium Centre
Arts, Business & the Community, sponsored by Wales & West Utilities:
Winner United Welsh Housing Association for its partnership with NoFit State Circus
Arts, Business & Young People, sponsored by Cardiff Metropolitan University:
Winner Scottish Power Foundation for its sponsorship of The Aloud Charity and Theatr Clwyd
Arts & Small Business, sponsored by Principality Building Society:
Winner Clwb Ifor Bach for its sponsorship of Tafwyl
Arts, Business & Health, sponsored by Western Power Distribution:
Winner Cartrefi Conwy for its partnership with Oriel Colwyn
Arts, Business & the Environment, sponsored by the Waterloo Foundation & University of Wales, Trinity St David:
Winner Jones Bros for its sponsorship of Ruthin Craft Centre
Arts, Business & Employees, sponsored by Cartrefi Conwy:
Winner Western Power Distribution for its partnership with Hijinx
The Eversheds Business Adviser of the Year:
Winner Jeremy Jones, Fulcrum Direct Ltd for his contribution to community dance group, TAN
The Admiral Business of the Year Award:
Winner Cartrefi Conwy for its partnerships with Jan Gardner, Paul Sampson, Oriel Colwyn & the North Wales International Music Festival
The Hospital Innovations Arts Award:
Winner Hijinx for its outstanding partnership with Western Power Distribution.
The special Philanthropy Award was given to David Seligman OBE & his late wife Philippa for their generous personal support of many of the leading arts organisations across Cardiff.
The award winners were chosen by an independent panel of judges who have expertise in practical art forms, sponsorship and the aims of the private sector. They are: Geoff Barber, Principality Building Society; Mary Czulowski, CEO Britwind Ltd; Chris Frost, joint owner of manorhaus, Ruthin & Llangollen; Gareth I Jones, Founder & CEO, Welsh Innovation Centre for Enterprise; Eilyr Owen Griffiths, composer, lecturer & music director; Cathy Owens, Director, Deryn and Ted Sangster, Chair, The Darwin Centre & Waterfront Gallery.
The Awards’ principal sponsor was global energy company Valero, supporting the ceremony for the 7th year. The Refinery Public Affairs Manager said:
“Wales enjoys a global reputation for creativity and culture. This reputation is underpinned by strong cooperation between arts and the business world. At the heart of these efforts is Arts & Business Cymru, an organisation that plays a vital role in supporting the development of links between arts organisations and the private sector in Wales. Valero Pembroke Refinery is again incredibly proud to be able to support the Arts & Business Cymru Awards as principal sponsor, and celebrate the rich and exciting arts and business partnerships in Wales which benefits all sections of the community.”
The A&B Cymru Awards also benefits from staunch in-kind support from a range of Wales based businesses, including Ancre Hill Estates, Cardiff Airport, Carrick Creative, Celtic Spirit, Flightlink, Flower Lodge, Flybe, Freshwater, Fruitapeel, Intercity Removals, Llanllyr Source, Mari Thomas Jewellery and Park Plaza, Cardiff. The ceremony’s media partner is Orchard Events.
