Shortlist for Prestige Awards for innovation in Arts Sponsorship announced

24/2/99 Innovative partnerships and increasing sophistication in arts sponsorship by Western Australia's corporate sector will be recognised by Arts Minister Peter Foss, at the fifth State Arts Sponsorship Scheme Awards.

24/2/99
Innovative partnerships and increasing sophistication in arts sponsorship by Western Australia's corporate sector will be recognised by Arts Minister Peter Foss, at the fifth State Arts Sponsorship Scheme Awards.
The Minister today announced the shortlist for the Prestige Awards for innovation in Arts Sponsorship.
The awards will be presented at the annual Business and the Arts Dinner on Tuesday, March 2 at the Perth Entertainment Centre. The Minister co-hosts the dinner with Australian Capital Equity.
The scheme was established by Mr Foss in 1993 to encourage and give recognition to corporate sector support for the arts. There are two elements to the scheme, general endorsements and the Prestige Awards.
"This year over 100 companies, of all sizes across a number of industries, have been endorsed as sponsors of the arts, and among the nominations are some very creative and productive partnerships between the arts and the corporate sector," Mr Foss said.
The value of the arts sponsorships provided by the companies nominated for endorsement under the Scheme totalled more than $2.5 million in cash and kind.
The Prestige Award Winners are considered under a number of criteria, such as:

      • how innovative a sponsorship is;
      • the value of the partnership created between the arts organisation and its sponsor;
      • the long-term benefits of the sponsorship for each partner;
      • the extent to which it has created new audiences or new opportunities for existing audiences;
      • new opportunities for the arts;
      • the extent to which sponsors have embraced the sponsorship; and -
      • new opportunities provided to the sponsor.

The short list for the Prestige Awards is:
      • Most innovative sponsorship. Aherns, Dairy Industry Authority of Western Australia, Jumbo Vision International Pty Ltd, Perth Weekly, South Sea Pearl Consortium, Transperth, Wesfarmers Limited;
      • Best industry initiative. Australia Post, South Sea Pearl Consortium, Wesfarmers Limited, Woodside Petroleum;
      • Outstanding long-term commitment by a patron. BP Australia Limited, Qantas Airways Limited, Ashley de Prazer, Town & Country Bank, the Old Brisbane Hotel, Heytesbury Pty Ltd, Gearhouse, Lexus Australia;
      • Best joint or cross promotional sponsorship.
- Brownes Connoisseur Ice Cream/Peters & Brownes Group/Lamont's Wine and Food/Transperth;
- Katsui Design/Perth Weekly/Art Gallery of Western Australia;
- Aherns/The West Australian/Singapore Airlines;
- Betts & Betts/Aherns/Channel 10;
- Voyager Estate Wines/Lexus Australia; and -
- Wesfarmers Limited
      • Outstanding individual patron. (There is only one entrant in this category so details cannot be released.)

"The results are a fine example of what can be achieved when the arts and corporate communities combine their resources," Mr Foss said.
"In positively identifying business supporters of the arts, we seek to stimulate more mutually beneficial partnerships between the corporate sector and the arts.
"The arts offer unique opportunities to business for niche marketing, corporate entertainment, staff development and creative management, as well as helping to enhance corporate identity.
"The sponsorship relationships forged by companies nominated for awards provide a strong indication that the corporate sector and arts organisations in Western Australia are becoming more sophisticated and successful in their partnerships."
Media contact. Chris Morris 9321 2222