The Arts & Business Scotland 25th anniversary Awards winners have been announced at a prestigious ceremony at the Music Hall in Aberdeen.

The event is held each year to recognise the most outstanding and creative partnerships between business and arts organisations.

Winners across ten categories were presented with specially commissioned award pieces in front of an audience of over 300 guests from business, the arts and the media.

Businesses and arts organisations large and small counted themselves amongst the winners.  Special individual awards included the Creative Scotland Award for the support of Talent, the Aberdeen City Arts Award, the Leadership Award and the Philanthropy Award.

Barclay Price, Director of Arts & Business Scotland, said:

“Scotland has a powerful track record in creativity and innovation that enriches our culture, our communities and our quality of life. These imaginative sponsorships are superb examples of the mutual benefits of business support for the arts, as well as giving recognition to the hard work and commitment shown by many to the wide variety of dynamic arts projects thriving throughout Scotland. From projects working with young carers in areas of social deprivation to world class international flagship arts events, businesses, large and small, continue to see the commercial and community benefits of investing in Scotland’s culture.’

This year the Awards were generously sponsored by Aberdeen City Council, Aberdeen Asset Management, Allander Print Limited, Bank of Scotland, Chevron Upstream Europe, Creative Scotland, McGrigors, Shell UK Limited, TAQA Bratani Limited, Whitespace and supported by Aberdeenshire Council, anCnoc Single Malt Scotch Whisky, FirstScotrail, Gray’s School of Art, Inverarity Vaults, The List Magazine and The Town House Collection

The full list of Awards made:

Community (sponsored by McGrigors LLP)

For a partnership that has encouraged specific community engagement with the arts

Winner: Scott + Co & Citizens Theate

Commended: ScottishPower & National Theatre of Scotland

Commended: Shell UK Limited & Theatre Modo together with Reaching Out Project

Sponsorship by a Small Business (sponsored by Bank of Scotland)

For a sponsorship by a company with less than 50 employees

Winner: Ludometrics & Cryptic

Commended: Tsuko Limited & The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo

Young People (sponsored by Aberdeen Asset Management)

For a partnership that has harnessed the power of the arts to engage young people

Winner: TAQA Bratani Limited & Moving Flicks

Commended: Scottish Friendly Assurance & Scottish Book Trust

Commended: Cairn Energy PLC & Traverse Theatre

Commended: Riverside Inverclyde & The Glasgow School of Art

New or Returning Sponsor (Sponsored by Allander Print Limited,  Whitespace)

For an arts sponsorship by a business sponsoring the arts in Scotland for the first time or returning to sponsorship after a number of years

Winner: Brooks Brothers & Scottish Ballet

Commended: FirstGroup plc & Glasgow Life

Commended: Barnetts of St Andrews & The Byre Theatre of St Andrews

Cultural Branding (Sponsored by Shell U.K. Limited)

For a partnership that has reinforced the branding and marketing activity of a business through the use of  culture

Winner: BNY Mellon & National Galleries of Scotland

Commended: The Ubiquitous Chip & UZ Arts

Commended: Reid & Scottish Ballet

Sustained Partnership (Sponsored by TAQA Bratani Limited)

For an established, ongoing partnership that continues to set standards in creative arts-business collaborations

Winner: Bank of Scotland & Edinburgh International Festival

Commended: The Royal Bank of Scotland Group & The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo

Commended: ScottishPower & Glasgow Life – Celtic Connections

Creative Scotland Award for the support of Talent (sponsored by Creative Scotland)

To an individual or organisation that has made a special contribution to nurturing creative talent in Scotland

Winner: Caroline Bowditch

Aberdeen City Arts Award (Sponsored by Aberdeen City Council)

For an individual or organisation that has made a special contribution to the arts in the city

Winner: Ian McKenzie Smith

Leadership (Sponsored by Chevron Upstream Europe)

For an individual who has shown outstanding leadership in the arts during 2010

Winner: Lady Susan Rice

Philanthropy

For outstanding support of an arts project by an individual

Winner: Andrew W Paterson for his support of the John Byrne Award (schools competition)

The judging panel was comprised of:

• Peter Sharp, Employment Partner at McGrigors LLP in Aberdeen (Chair)

• Robert Collier, Chief Executive, Aberdeen Chamber of Commerce

• Lucy Bird, Chief Executive, Marketing Edinburgh

• Alice O’Rawe, Head of Development & Alumni Relations, Queens University

• Imogen Russon-Taylor, former Head of Communications, The Glenmorangie Company

• Susan  Bruce, Chief Executive, City Of Edinburgh Council

Source: A&BS