The arts are all around us. Whether it is attending a theatre, visiting a museum, listening to music, going to a circus, enjoying classical music, enjoying a festival, reading your favourite author, appreciating works of art. The arts enliven our lives in so many ways. The arts are part of our DNA and everyone without exception draws on the arts for inspiration, innovation and/or consolation. The arts belong to everyone, in particular the artists and the audience and public they serve. So it is only appropriate that every opportunity is availed of to support the extremely valuable work of the artists and the art organisations.

The government through the Arts Council is playing its part, working in partnership with artists, arts organisations and others to build a central place for the arts in Irish life. But we also recognise the need for additional significant support and we encourage the engagement of philanthropy to help fill the voids. But more importantly, we encourage the realisation of the shared values between the Arts Council and philanthropic donors, to help artists realise their dreams of creating, presenting and delivering their work to an audience and to help build a sustainable model of philanthropy in Ireland for the future.

Pictured at a COVID-19-adapted announcement of the Business to Arts Awards is Rachel Ní Bhraonáin of Fidget Feet. Photograph: Robbie Reynolds

The Arts Council is delighted to support the Business to Arts award for Best Philanthropic Support to the Arts which recognises best-practice and outstanding impact in the area of arts philanthropy. We strongly encourage the embedding of a culture of sustainable philanthropy for the arts encapsulated in the Arts Council's RAISE programme which is focused on growing private investment to the arts in Ireland. We look forward to acknowledging and recognising the philanthropic champions to the arts and encourage all those artists and arts organisations who are beneficiaries of generous philanthropy to nominate their champions for this award.

Speaking about the new partnership, Andrew Hetherington, Chief Executive of Business to Arts said: “We are delighted to commence this new relationship with the Arts Council which is aimed at recognising outstanding examples of arts philanthropy in Ireland. At a time of critical need for the arts sector, it is important to celebrate philanthropic supporters of the arts and to encourage and promote a culture of sustainable, strategic giving across Ireland. Our Awards are our flagship programme to achieve this.”

The awards are now open for application on the Business to Arts website. The closing date for applications is Wednesday 16 December at 5pm. Go to www.businesstoarts.ie/awards for information on the application process and to complete the online application form to nominate your donor champion of choice.

—Martin O’Sullivan, Deputy Director of the Arts Council
Wednesday 21 October, 2020