The list of nominees in 12 categories reflects a growing awareness within the corporate sector both of the inherent value of the arts to society at all levels and of the business argument for supporting the arts.

Along them, two Johannesburg Development Agency projects allowed Joburg’s most densely-populated areas to become sites for public art. The BRT Station Public Art project (nominated in the Innovation Category) involved the commissioning of artwork to adorn the major stations along the Rea Vaya route, while Fire Walker, a dynamic structure by William Kentridge and Gerhard Marx on Queen Elizabeth Bridge, was nominated in the Single Strategic Project Category.

These were not the only projects of benefit to the broader public. RMB’s six-metre concrete bench on busy Rivonia Road – flanked at each end by life-size bronze figures by sculptor Louis Olivier – has proved hugely popular with passers-by. The project was also nominated in the Innovation Category.

Four people who make massive contributions to South African arts are up for the Art Champion Award, a new category this year. They are film; television; and theatre Producer, Eric Abraham; Dick Enthoven, who has successfully drawn the worlds of business and the arts together with Nando’s, Spier, Hollard, and Etana; Paul Harris, who has always believed that the arts would be good for the brands under his control, including FNB and RMB; and Ravi Naidoo, Founder of the Design Indaba.

Importantly, this Award pays tribute to the role of the individual driver, with regards to corporate sponsorship of the arts.

The nominations also prove that everybody can make a difference from large corporates such as Absa; Old Mutual; Standard Bank; and Total to smaller initiatives like Soweto’s Sakhumzi Restaurant and Cape Town’s Grand Daddy Hotel.

“Notwithstanding the current economic climate and the impact of the World Cup on arts sponsorship, we are delighted by the diversity and engagement of businesses in the arts, as seen by the finalist list. More and more, we are able to see how innovative both business and arts projects have become in order to truly leverage the relationship,” says BASA CEO, Michelle Constant.

Nominations were made in 12 categories while the Chairman’s Award for sustained and innovative contribution to the arts will be awarded at the ceremony in August.

This year’s finalists were selected by a prestigious panel of judges - co-founder and head of Vega School of Advertising, Gordon Cook; arts consultant Nicki du Plessis; Loerie Awards MD, Dr Andrew Human; marketing consultant Dr Ivan May; co-founder and co-owner of multi-disciplinary design firm, INK Lisebo Mokhesi and Artistic Director of Siwela Sonke, and academic Jay Pather. The Awards were audited by Grant Thornton.

Dr May says: “It is gratifying to see the recognition of arts and culture sponsorship by enlightened companies. And it is growing every year. Unlike the 2010 FIFA World Cup, which prices are quoted in telephone number terms, arts and culture sponsorship represents such excellent value for money. Enlightened companies are recognising this and are turning the sponsorship to their substantial advantage. Thus arts sponsorship, done smartly, is the secret weapon to brand building and triple bottom line accountability.”

The Business Day BASA Awards, supported by Anglo American, will be presented at a gala ceremony at Villa Arcadia on 30 August.

Innovation
· Absa Internal Choir Festival (sponsor Absa)
· The Benchmark Think Project with sculptor Louis Olivier (sponsor Rand Merchant Bank)
· The BRT Station Public Art Project (sponsor Johannesburg Development Agency)
· South African National Association for the Visual Arts (sponsor Absa)

First Time Sponsor
· Imbali Visual Literacy Project: education and training in arts and crafts (sponsor Diamscan SA)
· The Cultural Landscapes Exhibition (sponsor The Forum Company)
· Mo-bil-ity: Artists in Residence (sponsor Kwelapele Investments t/a Modern Autohaus BMW)
· Zip Zap Circus (sponsor AFS Group)

Increasing Access to the Arts
· Africa meets Africa: Ndebele women painting in the city (sponsor Plascon Paints)
· Braam Kruger Retrospective Exhibition (sponsor Standard Bank – Limpopo)
· Sandton Central Arts Programme (sponsor Sandton Business Improvement District t/a Sandton Central)

International Sponsorship
· The Buskaid Soweto String Ensemble Botswana Tour (sponsor Total South Africa)
· Old Mutual National Choir Festival (sponsor Old Mutual Life Assurance Company (South Africa) Limited)
· Rendezvous Art Project (sponsor Air Liquide Pty)

Sustainable Partnership
· Absa Internal Choir Festival (sponsor Absa)
· Old Mutual National Choir Festival (sponsor Old Mutual Life Assurance Company (South Africa) Limited)
· Standard Bank Young Artist Awards (sponsor Standard Bank of South Africa)
· The UCT Clanwilliam Arts Development Project (sponsor Fairheads)

Media Sponsorship
· Classicfeel Magazine (sponsor DeskLink Media)
· Absa Klein Karoo Nasionale Kunstefees (sponsor kykNET)
· Oppikoppi (sponsor MK)
· Spring Art Tour (sponsor BDFM Publishers)
· The Witness Hilton Arts Festival (sponsor The Witness Printing and Publishing Company)

Single Strategic Project
· The Cultural Landscapes Exhibition (sponsor The Forum Company)
· Daddy Bloom (sponsor The Grand Daddy Hotel)
· In Tune with Nature (sponsor MayFord Seeds [Sakata Seed Southern Africa)
· Trinity Sessions: Fire Walker (sponsor Johannesburg Development Agency)

Small Business
· Classicfeel Magazine (sponsor DeskLink Media)
· Sakhumzi Restaurant (sponsor Sakhumzi Restaurant)
· Sareal Design Exhibition (sponsor Omnicor)
· Suidoosterfees (sponsor The Movers Company)

Youth Development
· The Buskaid Soweto String Ensemble Botswana Tour (sponsor Total South Africa)
· Exclusive Books Children's Book Festival (sponsor Exclusive Books)
· The SoundHouse (sponsor Paul Bothner Music)
· Standard Bank National Schools Festival (sponsor Standard Bank of South Africa)
· The UCT Clanwilliam Arts Development Project (sponsor Fairheads)

Sponsorship In Kind
· Thuthuka Jewellery Development Programme (sponsor Studio 5)

Mentor(s) of the Year
· Daryl Bennewith/Fiona Kerr - Drakensburg Boys Choir
· Hilton Lawler - Origins Centre Association
· Hilton Lawler - Shwe Shwe Poppis
· Gordon Massie – Visual Arts Network (VANSA) Western Cape
· Gregory David Wallis - Ifa Lethu

Art Champion
· Eric Abraham - Founding Producer of The Fugard Theatre and Isango Portobello; Founder and Director of Portobello Pictures, Portobello Productions, Portobello Books and Fandango Portobello; Publisher of Granta Magazine
· Dick Enthoven - Shareholder of Capricorn Group (Nando’s, Spier, Hollard and Etana, amongst others)
· Paul Harris - partner in Audacia Wine F