Western Australia is well represented in the annual Australia Business Arts Foundation (AbaF) awards for private sector relationships with the arts, with six WA finalists in the national awards to be held later this month.
AbaF executive director Kathy Keele said the finalists demonstrated the many creative ways that the private sector and the arts were working together to strengthen the cultural life of the community.
In the open award, WA finalists are BHP Billiton Iron Ore and Black Swan Theatre Company for their collaboration on the development and production of the play Yandy, and Emirates and the Western Australian Symphony Orchestra (WASO) for a five-year partnership they have created to enable audience growth.
In the small business award, Sandalford Wines and WASO are finalists for their partnership on the annual Sandalford concert.
In the corporate strategy category, BHP Billiton Iron Ore is a finalist for its Pilbara community partner-ship program, which involves several major arts companies.
Advicebank finalists from WA are Lindsay O’Sullivan of Freehills and FORM for advice given over the planning of FORM’s ‘Aspects’ retail shop in Kings Park.
Peter Gianoli and Rebecca Grey of Mirvac Fini and Artrage are also nominated for helping to develop a new brand and marketing strategy for the 2005 Artrage festival.