HARCOURT Developments and Heritage Properties were among the winners of the Allianz Business to Arts awards, which were presented in Dublin last night by President Mary McAleese.
The awards, now in their 16th year, honour the contribution of businesses in Ireland to the arts.
President McAleese said last night: “The arts flourish where patronage is strong and we are very lucky that there is a growing culture of State and corporate patronage with the latter engaged in a lively contemporary debate about the role of corporate social responsibility.
“At this event we get a clear view of what corporate social responsibility can accomplish when it allies itself to the arts.”
Heritage Properties along with the Architecture Foundation won the award for best collaboration enhancing corporate identity following their collaboration for Ireland’s entry at design show Venice Biennale.
The award for best collaboration in the community went to the Dundrum Town Centre and the Mill Theatre and the award for the most innovative and creative collaboration went to Lundbeck Ireland and the George Moore society.
Among the other winners were Sherwood’s electrical store in Waterford and Tegral building products along with the Architectural Association of Ireland.
The judges’ special recognition award went to Harcourt Developments for their collaboration with artist Vivienne Roche to design a sculptural garden at the Park West business park.
Allianz Ireland chief executive Brendan Murphy said: “When good business and great arts come together they truly enrich our society. The arts also has a significant role to play in helping to foster the creativity and innovation that Ireland’s Enterprise Strategy calls for in planning our country’s future economic success.”
Harcourt director Mike Murphy and artist Vivienne Roche accepting the 2007 Business to Arts award