Call for entries: BASA Awards South Africa

Eligible creative mediums include music, visual arts, dance, theatre, physical performance, architecture, fashion, design and all forms of creativity appropriate to the understanding of the arts. Where sponsorship of a project, event or organisation has been shared, all sponsoring companies are eligible for entry.

Entries should be done online here and the submission deadline is 18 July. The finalists and winners in each category will be announced at an event in Johannesburg in August and early September respectively.

BASA will recognise work done in 2018 and award companies in the following 11 categories:

• Innovation Award (for the most innovative and progressive partnership in all mediums of creativity that serves the interests of all partners equally, and that is characterised by originality).
• First Time Sponsor Award (for businesses that are supporting the arts for the first time: irrespective of size, budget or purpose).
• Increasing Access to the Arts Award (awarded to a partnership that celebrates audience engagement, or that has contributed significantly to brand, market and audience development, while promoting the business through above-the-line media. It could also go to a business/arts partnership that has contributed to regeneration or sustainable growth, through a marketing, CSI or other budget).
• Beyond Borders Partnership Award (will go to a global-level partnership that builds brand reputation and audience across international borders through either an event or marketing project).
• Long Term Partnership Award (awarded to a business that has developed and expanded its commitment to an arts project over three years or more. The value to the arts project, to the broader community and to the business, must be clear).
• Media Sponsorship Award (for consistent and innovative support by editorial media).
• Strategic Project Award (recognising outstanding initiative, with best use of a project, which is an integral part of the business’ strategy).
• Small Business Award (for vital support given to the arts by a small company with up to 200 full-time employees and an annual turnover of no more than R10m).
• Sponsorship in Kind Award (for quantifiable non-monetary support to the arts).
• Development Award (awarded to projects with an implicit educational and development element).
• Cultural Tourism Award, supported by Nedbank (for business support of arts and culture projects, which contribute towards the growth of communities and jobs and support tourism opportunities).

Rules and regulations

• BASA will accept entries whose work took place between 1 January and 31 December 2018 (this includes long-term or ongoing sponsorships current during that period), and a sponsorship programme/project/partnership may enter a maximum of two categories.
• Eligible creative mediums include music, visual arts, dance, theatre, physical performance, architecture, fashion, design and all forms of creativity appropriate to the understanding of the arts.
• The entry can be completed by the sponsoring business and/or the recipient arts organisation, but must be approved by both the business and arts partner.
• Where sponsorship of a project, event or organisation has been shared, all sponsoring companies are eligible for entry.  A separate entry form should be used for each sponsoring company, and the differences between each sponsor/partner must be clear in terms of the partnership relationship and objectives.
• Projects may be entered on a year-on-year basis, as part of BASA’s sustainability strategy, regardless of previous wins. In assessing these entries, the judges will consider the evolution and growth of the partnership.
• A sponsorship programme/project/partnership may be entered into a maximum of two categories. Entrants are required to motivate for the entry’s alignment to the selected category.
• Supporting material (including relevant logos, high-res images, and, if possible, videos and other material) will be required. This is to assist the judges, as well as for publicity purposes. Entries will not be considered complete without images and logos.
• BASA may use information and images (excluding confidential financial information) for publicity purposes.
• Supporting material will be required to assist the judges and for publicity purposes.

“The BASA Awards not only promote mutually beneficial partnerships between business and the arts, but they also aim to encourage excellence and innovation in this area,” BASA CEO Ashraf Johaardien said.

BASA head of marketing Savannah Feeke said: “These prestigious awards shine a spotlight on the diverse and imaginative ways that businesses partner with creative projects, events and initiatives. They are a platform for identifying best practice, as well as recognising and celebrating these partnerships. We have received several quality submissions for this year, but felt strongly that it was necessary to create the time and space for other, additional and amazing partnerships to also be considered.”

For more information about this call, visit the BASA official website or contact Sinenhlanhla Mdiya at info@basa.co.za.