Forging corporate-culture mix

THE Australian Business Arts Foundation is calling for nominations for the 2003 ABAF national awards.

The ABAF is a Federal body whose role is to forge relationships between corporate and cultural sectors. The awards honour successful business/ arts partnerships throughout Australia.

Last year 28 WA organisations entered the awards– representing 16 per cent of national entries. Annual updates of past winners can be found in the ABAF Golden Book, which was recently launched to coincide with the 2003 call for nominations.

In 2002, WA partnerships won two of the eight categories, with Wesfarmers securing the City of Melbourne Open Award and the Fremantle Dockers winning the Bytecraft Innovation Award. ABAF manager Henry Boston said WA’s strong presence at the awards showed WA was punching above its weight.

Mr Boston listed a host of benefits resulting from business/arts partnerships, including financial and social gains, which largely stemmed from an increased profile in the community.

“Cultural partnerships can create more stimulating, happier environments and result in more productive staff,” he said.

There are four new categories for 2003, including the KPMG adviceBank Award, Corporate Strategy Award, and Small Business and Encouragement Awards.

Sealcorp Holdings Perth business improvement manager Fiona Kalaf will be WA’s representative on the judging panel. There are 10 judges in total, coming from a cross-section of corporate backgrounds – finance, hospitality and the media.

Mr Boston said selection criteria varied with each award, however he expected the partnerships to be mutually beneficial, innovative and creative, strategic and to involve the whole company.

He said the awards were gaining momentum since their inception in 2001.

 “The ABAF foster quality partnerships. We are not promoting the traditional sponsorship paradigm of ‘give me the money and we will put your logo on our brochure’,” he said.

“It’s about developing relationships and having each of the partners assets benefit each other.”

Nominations close on May 29. Entry forms can be downloaded from the ABAF website: www.abaf.org.au