Business Arts South Africa Awards announce 2021 finalists

The awards, which will take place in August, will shine the spotlight on partnerships with organisations that have made a positive impact through their projects. They are also designed to celebrate creative mediums including music, visual arts, dance, theatre, architecture, physical performance, fashion and design, as well as any other form of art, culture and creativity.

“Businesses that understand the power of art to the mind, heart, and the bottom-line collaborate with creatives and through their work champion change, social cohesion, growth and well-being,” BASA chairperson Charmaine Soobramoney said. “Since its inception, the BASA Awards have recognised and celebrated these impactful business and art collaborations. Across seven categories and a special award, the 2021 BASA Awards once again highlight the many ways in which the business and creative sectors have successfully collaborated despite the challenges presented by the pandemic this past year.”

BASA CEO Ashraf Johaardien said: “We felt it was important to acknowledge, augment and amplify the resilience of the arts sector and the business partnerships that have helped them endure; a quality that is reflected in the reimagining of content and context found in the projects and very determination of the projects chosen.”

This year’s BASA Awards adjudication panel will include Khanyi Mamba, Heidi Brauer, Kojo Baffoe, Lerato Matsoso, Makgati Molebatsi and Theresho Selesho.

Below is the list of finalists:

Sponsorship In-Kind Award

• AkzoNobel South Africa/Dulux South Africa and Baz-Art, for the International Public Art Festival.
• Royal Hotel Riebeek Kasteel and Arts Town Riebeek Valley, for the Royal Arts Town Amphitheatre Summer Theatre Season.
• The Bantry Bay Suite Hotel and The Rainbow Academy, School of Performing Arts and Business, for The Rainbow Academy: Making Rainbows in the Time of Covid-19-South Africa.

Innovation Award

• Mrs Woolf (Pty) Ltd and Artist Proof Studio, for The Lockdown Collection.
• MTN SA Foundation and UJ Gallery, for UJ’s Moving Cube breaks ground with MTN’s Blind Alphabet.
• The Standard Bank of South Africa Limited and the National Arts Festival, for the Virtual National Arts Festival.

Beyond Borders Partnership Award

• The Standard Bank of South Africa Limited and African Artists for Development (ADD), for Lumieres d'Afriques.
• The Standard Bank of South Africa Limited and the National Arts Festival, for the Virtual National Arts Festival.

SMME Award

• Mindspace Consulting CC (t/a Impact Space) and Womandlachallenge, for the Womandlachallenge.
• Mrs Woolf (Pty) Ltd and Artist Proof Studio, for The Lockdown Collection.
• The Bantry Bay Suite Hotel and The Rainbow Academy, School of Performing Arts and Business, for The Rainbow Academy: Making Rainbows in the Time of COVID-19-South Africa.

First-Time Sponsor Award

• Adcock Ingram Critical Care and The National School of the Arts, for LIFELINES – Chandelier Installation.
• Mindspace Consulting CC (t/a Impact Space) and Womandlachallenge, for the Womandlachallenge.
• Sirdar and Artist Proof Studio, for The Lockdown Collection.

Long-Term Partnership Award

• MTN SA Foundation and UJ Gallery, for the UJ Art Gallery and MTN SA Foundation Partnership.
• Nando's and Spier Arts Trust, for the Nando’s Creative Exchange.
• Rand Merchant Bank, a division of FirstRand Ltd, and Outreach Foundation, for Letters to You and Me - an intergenerational project.

Community Development Award

• Investec StartUp School and Marimba Jam (Pty) Ltd, for Marimba Jam.
• Mindspace Consulting CC (t/a Museum Store Africa) and Impact Space, for Masks4Good – a community collective.
• Rand Merchant Bank, a division of FirstRand Ltd, and Outreach Foundation, for Letters to You and Me - an intergenerational project.