ALLIANZ ARTS & BUSINESS NI AWARDS 2019
Allianz Arts & Business NI Awards 2019 celebrates creative connections During the evening, guests were entertained by a vibrant line-up of artistic talent. This included a performance of ‘Rough Girls’, a new commission by The Lyric, written by Tara Lynne O’Neill, and directed by Emma Jordan. Belfast composer Conor Mitchell’s, The Belfast Ensemble, performed part of their stunningly original show ‘The Doppler Effect’. A performance from ‘Good Vibrations’, the musical version of the popular movie charting the life of Belfast punk legend Terri Hooley, won rousing applause, while Kwa Daniels of Bounce Culture, entertained guests before and after the ceremony.
AWARD WINNERS Martin Bradley MBE, chairman Arts & Business NI, Dr Wendy Austin MBE, with Karen Reynolds JTI, who supported the creation of the awards by Claire Mooney, Arts & Business NI chief executive Mary Nagele, Peter Kilcullen, Allianz, Tracy Meharg, permanent secretary, Department for Communities, Damien O’Neill, Allianz and Damian Smyth, Arts Council for Northern Ireland
M
ore than 300 guests packed into The Lyric in Belfast as the venue played host to the Allianz Arts & Business NI Awards 2019. The annual awards, supported by Allianz, recognise the creative and pioneering partnerships between the worlds of business and the Arts in Northern Ireland. Ten awards were presented on the evening, across categories highlighting how creative collaborations are delivering benefits for both business and the arts sectors. The awards pieces were designed and created by local artist and silversmith Claire Mooney, a graduate of Ulster University. Speakers included Tracy Meharg, permanent secretary, Department for Communities. The event was hosted by Dr Wendy Austin MBE. Forestside Shopping Centre won the Allianz Arts & Business NI Business of the Year Award 2019 in recognition of its partnerships with several professional music festivals, and its ongoing commitment to supporting emerging young musicians and songwriters in Northern Ireland.
92
The Allianz Arts & Business NI Arts Award 2019 which comes with £3,000 support was won by Belfast Photo Festival for its progressive and creative approach to business partnership. The Allianz Community Art Award which is chosen by Allianz NI staff and funds a £2,000 arts initiative within a local community was awarded to Whitehead Wombles. Peter Kilcullen, chief customer officer, Allianz, who was presenting the awards, highlighted the importance of the arts sector and applauded the commitment of businesses to the sector. “The arts helps us understand and evolve our national identity amid change – serving as a compass, enabling society to navigate the unknown and renew in a changing world. “While this is true and well acknowledged what is perhaps in need of amplification is that the arts sector also contributes significantly to the commercial and financial health of Northern Ireland,” Peter said.
ALLIANZ COMMUNITY ART AWARD WHITEHEAD WOMBLES Chosen by Allianz NI staff, this Award comes with £2,000 cash support from Allianz. Whitehead Wombles is a group of volunteers who collect rubbish locally. The group was inspired by Whitehead Wombles Juniors, a group of schoolchildren and their parents who gather rubbish from the local shoreline. To illustrate the volume of rubbish, the group engaged local artist Steve Diamond to create a Loch Mess Monster inspired sculpture to be filled with the plastic waste collected by the children. The piece will tour schools, beaches and parks, showcasing what Whitehead Wombles are doing, and will hopefully nudge more responsible rubbish recycling locally. ALLIANZ ARTS & BUSINESS NI CULTURAL FUNDRAISER OF THE YEAR AWARD RACHEL KENNEDY, EASTSIDE ARTS Before taking up her role with EastSide Arts in 2015, Rachel had no previous fundraising experience. Through the Arts & Business NI LEAD Programme, funded by Arts Council, she worked with a mentor to refine sponsorship proposals, which looked at the EastSide Arts story and how to successfully engage sponsors.