Louise O'Reilly, Chief Executive of Business to Arts, introduces this year's edition of the Business to Arts Awards, and celebrates a organization that creates 'a realm where art and business stand united, creating a legacy that extends beyond balance sheets and institutions'.
At the intersection of business and the arts, a profound transformation is taking place, one that goes beyond mere transactions. It's a convergence of innovation, creativity, and purpose, igniting a synergy that is shaping society.
At the heart of this transformative movement stands Business to Arts, a pioneering charitable organisation in Ireland that's changing the way we perceive business-arts partnerships and their impact on our world.
Founded in 1988, Business to Arts holds a resolute mission—to foster investment in the arts for the betterment of society as a whole. I lead a small team who are passionate about connecting the corporate and cultural spheres through purposeful partnerships.
We recognise the dynamic potential of collaborations that extend beyond the boardroom and onto the canvas, stage, or screen, community, and society. So each year in September, we host the Business to Arts Awards, which stands as a testament to the power of creative alliances, honoring outstanding partnerships that redefine industry norms.
(Pic: Conor McCabe Photography)
Yet, the impact goes far beyond accolades. Our shortlisted nominees this year include the ESB Brighter Future Arts Fund, a €250,000 fund that supported five incredible artistic projects spanning theatre, poetry, music, dance, sculpture, gardening, visual arts, and soundscapes that sought to engage communities in climate change and inspire positive action around sustainability and the energy transition.
There are a number of amazing curatorial and inclusion projects that break down barriers such as the Studios of Sanctuary supported by the Tomar Trust in Cork—a 15-month mentorship-led residency for four artists and arts practitioners who are from an asylum seeker, refugee, and migrant background and who have a developing interest in socially engaged and community collaborative arts practice. All of the shortlisted nominees exemplify the tangible difference that business investment can make. Through the Awards and our year-round programme of activity, Business to Arts is cultivating a fertile ground for ideas to flourish, enabling durational partnerships that champion creativity, innovation, and diversity of thought.
the ESB Brighter Future Arts Fund, a Business to Arts award nominee
This is at the heart of my motivation. I have spent over two decades at the helm of mission-driven cultural initiatives supported by private-sector investment. I have navigated the complexities of boardroom negotiations with the international development of Science Gallery in London, Melbourne and Bangalore, the challenges of greenfield festival sites at Electric Picnic, and a kaleidoscope of the cultural landscape in Ireland from Dublin Fringe, to Irish Film Institute, to the National Campaign for the Arts in a portfolio career that exemplifies the far-reaching impact of cross-disciplinary and cross-sectoral partnerships.
The importance of businesses investing in the arts transcends monetary value. It's about nurturing creativity, fostering confidence and innovation, and driving societal change. Such investments don't merely benefit the arts; they ripple out, impacting education, social inclusion, and community development. They reinvigorate cultural landscapes, inspire collective imagination, and challenge us to envision a new world.
I feel strongly that within Business to Arts and its dedicated members lies a blueprint for progress. We’ve just published our new five-year strategy on our website and it has some big ambitions about what we can achieve for the arts sector with the support of visionary individuals and businesses - big and small throughout the country. It's a realm where art and business stand united, creating a legacy that extends beyond balance sheets and institutions.
The Business to Arts Awards takes place in the National Concert Hall on Tuesday Sept 12th. Check out this year’s shortlisted nominees and find out more about how you can become a member of Business to Arts here.
