EMBARGO TILL FRIDAY 16 OCTOBER 2009
Bangarra and Boral win top business-arts honour
A partnership between Bangarra Dance Theatre and Boral Limited has won the Partnership
of the Year Award at the national Australia Business Arts Foundation (AbaF) Awards,
presented in Brisbane on the evening of Thursday 15 October.
Arts minister Peter Garrett presented the award to Stephen Page, artistic director of
Bangarra and Rod Pearse, CEO and managing director of Boral at the national AbaF
Awards dinner, attended by 700 leaders of business and the arts.
While a partnership between a building materials company and an indigenous contemporary
dance company may seem unexpected, the two have a long-term relationship.
Boral’s cash sponsorship pays for Bangarra to develop new work for performance in
Australia and overseas. The partnership also creates opportunities for Boral’s 15,000 staff
and their families to enjoy Bangarra performances in Sydney and regional centres.
The AbaF Awards judges said: “This partnership provides significant community benefits in
key locations for Boral, while Bangarra is enabled to create and present new work to fulfil
important artistic and audience objectives.”
Two other Sydney-based arts organisations won major national awards:
Company B Belvoir and Optus won the Bytecraft Entertainment Commitment
award, for a ten-year partnership that provides free tickets to performances for Optus’
thirteen charity partners and to unwaged people, making theatre more accessible.
The judges said: “An exceptional partnership that is highly developed with an obvious
commitment. These two partners are absolute professionals in all they do together,
which is reflected in the exceptional outcomes achieved.”
Children’s choir, Gondwana Choirs and Brent Duffy of Maximus International
won the AbaF Business Volunteering Award. Brent Duffy provided Gondwana Choirs
with strategic advice on human resources management. His advice has reduced staff
turnover and provided Gondwana with a firm basis for continued growth.
Singer, artistic director and arts advocate Robyn Archer AO won the Dame Elisabeth
Murdoch Arts Business Leadership Award.
All the winners are listed on the next page. Photos can be downloaded from
Media contact: Nick Gadd 03 9616 0308 mobile 0425 862 119.
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National winners of AbaF Awards
AbaF Partnership of the Year: Bangarra Dance Theatre and Boral Limited
Dame Elisabeth Murdoch Arts Business Leadership Award: Robyn Archer AO
.
Richard Pratt Business Arts Leadership Award: Kerry Stokes AC
Goldman Sachs JBWere Philanthropy Leadership Award: Philip Bacon AM
AbaF Giving Award: Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra
City of Brisbane Encouragement Award: Tasmanian Regional Arts and RACT Insurance
Bytecraft Entertainment Commitment Award: Company B Belvoir and Optus.
Marsh Partnering Award: Bangarra Dance Theatre and Boral Limited
AbaF Business Volunteering Award: Gondwana Choirs and Brent Duffy, Maximus
International
Toyota Community Award: DADAA (Disability in the Arts, Disadvantage in the Arts
Australia) City of Swan and Midland Redevelopment Authority.
Australia Council Young and Emerging Artist Award: City of Swan and Midland Gate.
QantasLink Regional Award: Michael Leslie Foundation for the Arts and Rio Tinto.
AbaF SME Award: Bendigo Youth Choir and Bendigo Community Telco
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