Big players pitch in

Western Australia’s booming economy has delivered some handsome returns for companies associated with the resource sector over the past year, and these big players have, in turn, increased their commitment to the arts in this state.

The total number of companies and organisations nominated for the WA Business and the Arts Partnership Awards contributing more than $100,000 to the arts was up by almost 65 per cent to 28 compared with 17 the previous year.

Overall, however, it was a mixed year for arts sponsorship as recognised at the awards ceremony on Friday, with the total amount pledged by business to WA arts and culture falling from $11 million in 2005 to $8.5 million this year. 

Much of this fall-off in funding was attributed to changes to entry regulations, which restricted the number of entries allowed by a company in each category.

While the cultural sector was doing better at the big end of town, donations at the other end of the spectrum, $3,000 to $15,000, had fallen by nearly 30 per cent since 2005. 

Culture and Arts Minister Sheila McHale said the nature of partnerships between business and the arts had matured since the awards, now in their 13th year, began.

Ms McHale pointed to the use of ‘partnership’ rather than ‘sponsorship’ in the awards title as a reflection of the development of business-arts relationships, from a one-sided financial investment by business to a partnership with recognised mutual benefits.

“The winning partnerships displayed real benefits for the arts organisation, the business partner and the broader community,” Ms McHale said. “Businesses, whether large or small, have an important role to play in nurturing the arts and benefit from that investment in the short and long term.

“These partnerships secure long-term economic growth and create opportunities for WA by boosting services, creating jobs and strengthening our regions.”

The awards attracted 243 nominations this year, down from 305 nominations last year, representing 155 businesses and $8.5 million of support to arts organisations.

Eight business-arts partnerships received ‘prestigious partnership awards’ and three additional partnerships were highly commended, with the awards recognising new and long-term partnerships, innovation, community investment, arts development, commitment to regional arts and small business partnerships. 

A total of 49 arts organisations benefited from funding during the past year.

Nominations for the awards had decreased in all categories but one on last year’s figures, due to new regulations preventing multiple nominations in a single category.

The major contributors came from the mining, media, government and financial services sectors, with 28 companies deemed ‘major arts sponsors’.

Media heavyweights Channel Nine and Channel Ten, ABC TV and WIN were among the major contributors.

In the resources industry, Rio Tinto WA Future Fund and subsidiary Pilbara Iron made the senior list, while BHP Billiton and Woodside also featured.

High-profile arts suppor-ter Wesfarmers was a major sponsor, as was LandCorp, RAC, Emirates, the Insurance Commission, Ernst and Young and Rydges.