The 12th annual State Arts Sponsorship Awards winners were announced on Friday November 11 during an evening celebrating the collaboration between arts and business in Western Australia.
Culture and Arts Minister Sheila McHale, who presented the awards at a gala evening at His Majesty’s Theatre, said the 2005 awards attracted 305 nominations representing 187 businesses and approximately $11 million in corporate support of WA arts and culture.
“The strong field represents and reflects the recognition of businesses of the value in partnering with the arts and culture,” she said.
“The Gallop government takes great pride in WA’s strong and vibrant arts sector and is committed to developing and supporting it.”
The awards announced were for categories including outstanding long-term partnerships, most innovative partnerships, arts development, regional arts and culture, community investment, best small or medium-sized business partnership, best media partnership and best first-time partnership.
UWA Perth International Arts Festival artistic director Lindy Hume said the awards provided the business sector with a public responsibility while the arts community gained financial strength from their partnership.
“The Arts Sponsorship Scheme Awards help to create a more enlightened and progressive society and community,” she said.
Ms Hume said winning the ‘arts development award’ with their partner Wesfarmers illustrated Wesfarmers’ incentive to promote the WA arts community.
She said the partnership spanned five different art forms and had been a four-year collaboration.
Aragon Legal’s director of business administration, Dr Catherine Bachleda, said winning the ‘best first-time partnership award’ with ARTRAGE would ultimately raise the profile of the two companies.
“Our partnership with ARTRAGE is an innovative way of promoting the company,” she said. “It is a way of contributing to the very important art and cultural community in WA.”
Dr Bachleda said the partnership with ARTRAGE was set up more than 12 months ago and was a first for Aragon Legal.
The State Arts Sponsorship Scheme Awards evening also showcased a wealth of local artists, including the Spare Parts Puppet Theatre.
