GLOBE AND MAIL BUSINESS FOR THE ARTS AWARDS:
THE WINNERS Scotiabank arts partnership wins kudos

JAMES BRADSHAW

June 5, 2008

The Globe and Mail Business for the Arts Awards winners were announced yesterday evening in Toronto, with partners Scotiabank and Nuit Blanche headlining the field.

The recipients of the four prizes honouring "companies that show outstanding commitment to the arts in Canada" were chosen by a six-member jury.

The awards will be presented at a gala on Oct. 20.

Honoured alongside Scotiabank were Sun Life Financial, L'Oréal and North American Development Group.

Nichole Anderson, president and chief executive officer of Business for the Arts, also announced that former lieutenant-governor Henry N. R. Mr. Jackman is the winner of the Edmund C. Bovey Award for outstanding business leadership in the arts.

Claudia Moore is the recipient of the Arnold Edinborough Award, celebrating a business volunteer in the arts under age 40, for her commitment to Calgary's Decidedly Jazz Danceworks.

Scotiabank's union with the city and Nuit Blanche was named Best Arts/Entrepreneur Partnership for creating and expanding the free, 12-hour night of contemporary art. It was originally billed as a one-time effort but was quickly dubbed an annual signature event by the city.

The other Globe and Mail Business for the Arts Awards:

Most Effective Corporate Program: Nominated by the National Arts Centre, Sun Life Financial won for support that includes facilitating the NAC's National Youth and Education Trust and Roundtable, an outreach program for children across the country.

Most Innovative Marketing Sponsorship: Nominated by Luminato, L'Oréal was honoured for its innovation in attracting more than one million participants in the festival's inaugural year.

The First Dance Award: Given to a company entering a partnership with the arts for the first time, North American Development Group was chosen for granting Talk is Free Theatre three full seasons of free rent and utilities.

The jury also presented Bordeaux Developments, Cineplex, Molson and TD Bank with awards of distinction.