BASA Awards | and the winners are .....

13th Annual BASA Awards winners announced

Thirteen innovative business and arts partnerships were acclaimed at the 13th Annual Business Day BASA Awards, supported by Anglo American.

Successful businessman Dick Enthoven was named the recipient of the first Art Champion Award for his philanthropic contribution to the arts.

The winners of South Africa’s most prestigious business/arts awards were announced at an event held at the historic Villa Arcadia. Speaker on the night was the Deputy Minister of Arts and Culture, Mr Paul Mashatile. Performances by renowned mime artist Andrew Buckland, the Big People Puppets, as well as Standard Bank Young Artists Melanie Scholtz and Samson Diamond celebrated the evening.

The Chairman’s Premier Award went to the South African Schools’ Festivals, which benefits more than 6 000 learners annually, and its sponsors - the Grahamstown Foundation, Standard Bank and Sasol Ltd.

The 2010 winners included some of South Africa’s largest business institutions, including Standard Bank for the Sustainable Partnership Award for its Young Artists Awards and Plascon Paints SA for Africa Meets Africa, a celebration of Ndeleble art.

However, the list of winners – encompassing a diverse and broad arts and business terrain – demonstrated that anyone can make a difference - from a company like Bakgat Movers, which became the transport sponsor of the Suidoosterfees, to The Grand Daddy Hotel in Cape Town for its Daddy Bloom initiative, and Kwelapele Investments t/a Modern Autohaus BMW in Polokwane for its Mo-bil-ity: Artists in Residence programme.

The impressive list of winners reflects a growing awareness within the corporate sector, both of the inherent value of the arts to society at all levels and of the business argument for supporting the arts. Some initiatives like the BRT Station Public Art project (winner in the Innovation Category), which involved the commissioning of artwork to adorn the major stations along the Rea Vaya route, benefit the broader public.

The BASA Award function at Hollard’s Villa Arcadia also served as the official opening of the historic National Treasures Exhibition, a celebration of the 100-year old collection of the Johannesburg Art Gallery (JAG) which will be now be open to the public on certain days in September. Completed in 1910 Villa Arcadia was the Sir Herbert Baker designed residence of Randlord Lionel Phillips and his wife Florence. A leader herself in Johannesburg society, Florrie Phillips was personally responsible for establishing the Johannesburg Art Gallery.

“Even as the recession impacts on the local economy, we were delighted at the growth and excellent quality of the entries, a sign of business’s continued support of the arts. This year we focused on the importance of sustainability and our thanks go to our sponsors, and all the businesses that recognise the value of a country with a cultural backbone,” said Business and Arts South Africa CEO, Michelle Constant.

Commented Business Day Editor, Peter Bruce, “Without the arts we are not an authentic society. Given that in South Africa, as in many much larger economies, the arts require external funding, it is essential that business and government become involved – Government as a matter of duty and business because it is morally and commercially the right thing to do. We at Business Day congratulate the winners and their projects and encourage even more companies to become involved in this wonderful project next year.”

Premilla Hamid, General Manager of Public Affairs at Anglo American said: “Anglo American is a proud and long-standing supporter of arts and culture in South Africa, and we are immensely proud of our partnership with BASA. Through this project we are able to provide an ideal platform that recognises those champions that make a difference to the lives of extraordinary people who are equally committed to contributing to the development of South Africa. To this end, we have realised immense value with supporting the BASA awards over the years, and is a reflection of a real partnership between business and the arts.

This year’s winners were selected by a prestigious panel of judges - head of Vega School of Advertising, Gordon Cook; arts consultant Nicky du Plessis; Loerie Awards MD, Dr Andrew Human; marketing consultant Dr Ivan May; co-founder and co-owner of multi-disciplinary design firm INK Lisebo Mokhesi and Artistic Director of Siwela Sonke, and academic Jay Pather. The Awards were audited by Grant Thornton.

The full list of 2010 winners:

Innovation

- The BRT Station Public Art Project (sponsor Johannesburg Development Agency)

The BRT Station Public Art project was initiated to celebrate the diverse stories that define Joburg and was commissioned by the Johannesburg Development Agency (JDA). It is managed and implemented by a consortium consisting of The Trinity Session, Turkis and Urban Works but the final designs were selected by a group of local artists. At each station, artists have designed works that are sandblasted onto the glass panels. “The artworks programme was not merely an attempt to beautify the stations, but to create something of worth embedded in the very structure of the stations that would engage and pay tribute to those who use it on a daily basis,” says Lael Bethlehem, the former chief executive officer of the JDA.

First Time Sponsor

- Mo-bil-ity: Artists in Residence (sponsor Kwelapele Investments (Pty) Ltd t/a Modern Autohaus BMW)

This initiative came about to support artists in Polokwane. Five artists - Richard Chauke, Philip Rikotso, Wayne Baker, Irene Naude, and Amos Letsoalo – displayed works under the theme Mobility at a BMW showroom which was complemented by an exhibition of African toys from the African Toyshop. This led to impressive sales, a collaboration between Barker and Chauke while three of the Mobility artists were later invited to show their work at the UCA Gallery in Cape Town. Chauke was also a finalist in both the Sasol New Signatures and Spier Art Competition with a concept relating to the Mobility project.

Increasing Access to the Arts

- Africa meets Africa: Ndebele women painting in the city (sponsor Plascon Paints SA (Pty) Ltd
The Africa meets Africa Project celebrates the sophistication of Ndebele art and supports education in the rural Mpumalanga community of its origin. A large mural painting has been developed on the facade of the Sci-Bono Discovery Centre in Newtown and demonstrates the mathematics of Ndebele design. This methodology will be used to regenerate traditional Ndebele painting and beadwork skills in schools and then also used to teach mathematics within the classroom.

International Sponsorship

- Rendezvous Art Project (sponsor Air Liquide Pty)

This project aims to forge cultural links between South Africa and France by means of a series of exhibitions of lithographical work by artists from the two countries. The French component of these exhibitions is a collection of lithographical prints from Atelier Pons in Paris to be shown around SA (such as Pablo Picasso, Jean Pons, Pierre Alechinsky, Hans Hartung and Yves Klein) and the South African component consists of a collection of South African artists working in the medium of lithography (such as William Kentridge, Judith Mason, Sam Nhlengetwa, Diane Victor, Tommy Motswai and Norman Catherine).

Sustainable Partnership

- Standard Bank Young Artist Awards (sponsor Standard Bank of South Africa)

2009 marked the 25th anniversary of the Standard Bank Young Artist Awards (SBYA Awards), in partnership with the National Arts Festival. These awards, in the disciplines of dance, visual art, drama, film, music and jazz, are granted to South African artists who have demonstrated exceptional ability in their chosen field but not yet achieved national exposure and acclaim. The awards are regarded as South Africa’s most prestigious cultural accolades and the list of recipients includes some of South Africa’s most famous creative individuals. A new development undertaken with the support of SB’s business operations in Africa, the French Institute of South Africa and the Alliance Francaise led to 2009 Jazz award winner Kesivan Naidoo and his band performing in Nigeria, Ghana and Kenya.

Media Sponsorship

- The Witness Hilton Arts Festival (sponsor The Witness Printing and Publishing Company)

The Witness Hilton Arts festival, now in its 17th year, has proved to be a lasting, ongoing relationship between the two organisations (Hilton College and The Witness) which has seen it grow from a small event into one of the largest theatrical festival of its kind in KwaZulu-Natal, bringing over 20 000 people to the event over a three day period. Apart from the financial contribution, the newspaper's marketing team is fully committed to the event and creates all of the artwork for the promotional material, programmes and editorial. The event has created employment in the district in terms of additional staff employed in the hospitality industry to cope with the added influx of people to the district - but has also focussed on employing disadvantaged members of the community from the Hilton village. Bursaries have been created, with the first sound technician sponsored entirely by the festival, qualifying last year. For the first time in 2010 there will be a schools day, bringing learners from throughout the country to the festival.

Single Strategic Project

- Daddy Bloom (sponsor The Grand Daddy Hotel)

Daddy Bloom was a spring-focused project to promote creativity and the arts that invited 12 contestants to create a spring garden in the Grand Daddy's Airstream Trailer Park that was made of anything other than real flowers. The gardens had to be able to weather the elements and artists were told that they could sell their wares if they wanted. Prizes of R 1000 and two separate prizes of a night's stay in the trailers at the Grand Daddy were also given to the artists.

Small Business

- Suidoosterfees (sponsor The Movers also known as Bakgat Movers)

This year The Movers Company also known as Bakgat Movers came aboard as the transport sponsor and helped Suidoosterfees with the transportation of productions of Miss Africa South, Shirley Valentyn and Die Vrou In Die Maan. Says The Movers Company’s Gerrit Engelbrecht: “Being part of the arts is more to improve the arts of South Africa than about the money. We want to take the arts to the people because I never had the opportunity to before 30 years of age to be part of the arts.”

Youth Development

- The UCT Clanwilliam Arts Development Project (sponsor Fairheads)

This year marks a decade that Fairheads has sponsored the UCT Clanwilliam arts development project. Hundreds of children’s lives have been touched in the process and some have decided to adopt a career in the performing arts. The community now regards the project as a permanent part of the Clanwilliam cultural landscape. The project is a collaborative effort by UCT Drama, the Michaelis School of Fine Art as well as Magnet Theatre and Jazzart. The most important element has been and remains to bring a creative spark and an awareness of the arts to poor rural children who would otherwise never have such exposure. About 700 children between the ages of 5 and 18 are directly involved each year.

Sponsorship in Kind

- Thuthuka Jewellery Development Programme (sponsor Studio 5)

The Thuthuka Jewellery Development Programme is a skills development intervention to upgrade the design skills of young urban and rural jewellers. The partnership between Thuthuka and Studio 5 added great value to the media and marketing strategy of Thuthuka. Studio 5 designed and printed all the advertising and media material which enabled Thuthuka to gain publicity and exposure and showcase their jewellery.

AS THERE WAS ONLY ONE ENTRY IN THIS CATEGORY, A CERTIFICATE WAS AWARDED

Mentor of the Year

- Hilton Lawler - Origins Centre Association

Hilton Lawler took the staff of the Origins Centre Association and not only facilitated sessions on the basics of marketing but worked them through building their own marketing strategy. Given the diverse range of products on offer from the centre, including educational, heritage, merchandising, functions and events, the strategy had to be one that encompassed the Origins Centre as a whole but that also catered for the different divisions that dealt with very different products and markets. Hilton managed to unite a diverse group of individuals and got them working off the 'same page' over a period of six months. Results in 2010 have already been positive and one of the weak areas of the centre - attendance at temporary exhibitions - has seen a significant increase already. The centre's financial position in 2010 is also set to improve radically because of strategies implemented from the business/marketing plan.

Art Champion

- Dick Enthoven - Shareholder of Capricorn Group (Nando’s, Spier, Hollard and Etana, amongst others)

Dick Enthoven is a champion of the arts who combines outstanding success in business with phenomenal triumphs as a promoter and nurturer of the arts in all forms. Aside from freely giving of his time and expertise, he has inspired fellow patrons and patronage of South African contemporary art. His contributions are broad and varied. In addition to being a major collector himself, he has successfully drawn the worlds of business and the arts together. Nando’s, Spier, Hollard and Etana have fully embraced the arts. Nando’s UK has a collection of 3000 South African artworks prominently displayed in over 200 restaurants while Hollard, Etana and Spier have extensive collections of contemporary South African art displayed at their premises. Spier has wide-ranging involvement in the visual, performing and cinematic arts including the Spier Contemporary Art Biennale, Spier Films, the Spier Arts Academy and Spier Architectural Arts.

Chairman’s Award

- South African Schools’ Festivals (Grahamstown Foundation, Standard Bank, Sasol Ltd)

The South African Schools Festivals bring 6000 South African learners and their teachers to the threshold of artistic, educational, dramatic and social enrichment.

Aimed at grade 11s and 12s, the Schools Festivals programme aims to go some way towards meeting the need for a varied arts curriculum in schools. Regional Festivals take place in the Western Cape, Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Free State/Northern Cape, North West, Mpumalanga and in Gauteng. The Standard Bank National Schools Festival takes place in Grahamstown in July.