North west firms triumph in Arts & Business Awards
From left, Damian McParland, chair, Arts and Business NI, Erin McFeely and John Harkin of Alchemy Technology Services and Mary Nagele, CEO, Arts and Business NI
Two organisations in the north west have taken home the top awards at the 2024 Arts & Business NI Awards in Belfast’s Lyric Theatre.
The Millennium Forum Theatre & Conference Centre and Alchemy Technology Services were named Arts Organisation of the Year and Business of the Year respectively at the event this month recognising the impact of creative business collaborations during 2023.
A collaboration between the theatre and Aircoach to encourage the community to get involved with its staging of the musical FAME was one of its inventive projects with businesses throughout the year.
Alchemy Technology Services claimed the highest recognition in the business category for its commitment to engaging with the arts for the benefit of its community, staff and customers. Each year, the company engages in a creative festival for its employees and joins forces with arts providers to enhance talent development and community connections.
Other worthy winners at the event included partnerships between Golden Thread Gallery and Translink, Belfast International Arts Festival and Belfast Harbour, as well as Kabosh Theatre Company.
Mary Nagele, chief executive of Arts & Business NI, said: “Year on year, our awards tell the important stories of the incredible partnerships cultivated in the corporate and cultural sectors here.
“Visionary private sector leaders recognise the value that connecting with arts organisations brings in so many ways — from motivating a workforce to addressing skills gaps, from supporting the needs of local communities to attracting staff and customers.
“Arts organisations also thrive through connecting with the business sector, using their skills and creativity to make great things happen and raise their profile while doing so. “Every winner at this year’s awards can be proud of the contribution they’ve made, not only to their own organisation and their partners, but also to the cultural and economic fabric of Northern Ireland overall.”
The Arts & Business NI Awards have been taking place for over 20 years.
