The Globe and Mail Becomes Title Sponsor of CBAC Business for the Arts Awards

April 24, 2006 (Toronto, ON)

The Globe and Mail has partnered with The Council for Business and the Arts in Canada (CBAC) - an ambassador for business partnerships with the arts for more than 30 years - as the title sponsor of their annual awards program.

Today's announcement by Billie Bridgman, President and CEO of the CBAC and Phillip Crawley, Publisher and CEO of The Globe and Mail, brands the awards: The Globe and Mail Business for the Arts Awards.

"As the newspaper of record for both business and the arts in Canada, it was natural for us to partner with the CBAC," said Crawley. "Canadian business provides critical support to the arts; support that needs encouragement and recognition. We hope The Globe and Mail Business for the Arts Awards will become synonymous with innovative business culture and inspire more Canadian companies to support the arts."

"This partnership with The Globe and Mail launches a new era for CBAC in our role as ambassador for business partnerships with the arts," said Bridgman. "Increased profile through The Globe and Mail will reinforce and recognize the role of businesses as partners with the arts and highlight the unique opportunities - and just plain fun - that collaborating with culture offers."

The Globe and Mail Business for the Arts Awards include three existing categories: Best Arts Entrepreneur Partnership; Most Effective Corporate Program and Most Innovative Marketing Sponsorship. This year the CBAC is adding a new award - The First Dance - to recognize businesses that take their first step into arts partnerships. "Beginning a new sponsorship relationship with an arts organization is like beginning a dance together," explains Ms. Bridgman. "We want to acknowledge the vision and courage of those companies just stepping into these relationships for the first time."

Ms. Bridgman and Mr. Crawley also announced their partnership in launching a national juried art competition for a new sculptural award piece, to be unveiled at The Globe and Mail Business for the Arts Awards in the fall. For more information regarding the Award Design Competition, please visit www.businessforarts.org/awards/awdes.asp.

The awards nomination process in all categories is now open, and will be accepted until June 23, 2006. For more information regarding nominations, please visit www.businessforarts.org/awards/gm.asp.

The CBAC is a national association of business leaders focused on encouraging private sector support for the arts community. Since 1978, the CBAC has issued annual awards to those companies that have shown outstanding commitment to Canadian arts. More than 170 companies have been honoured to date.

The Globe and Mail, Canada's national newspaper, is a division of Bell Globemedia, a dynamic multi-media company, which also owns CTV Inc., Canada's number-one private broadcaster.

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