The Irish Times, PwC and Dublin Port were among the winners at 2015 Allianz Business to Arts awards at the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre.
In its 24th year, the Allianz Business to Arts awards recognise businesses, artists and arts organisations that develop creative partnerships across Ireland. Minister for Arts Heather Humphreys joined 550 leaders from across business and the arts, to highlight the cultural relationships that have helped benefit Irish society.
Business to Arts chief executive Andrew Hetherington said nominations to this year’s awards increased by 25 per cent and represented €10 million worth of investment in the cultural sector in the past year.
The Irish Times won the Best Long Term Partnership award for its partnership with the Irish Times Irish Theatre Awards. Established in 1997, the awards recognise excellence in Irish theatre and are the only national event that provides a platform across 14 categories of Irish theatre professionals.
The Allianz Community Art Prize was awarded to Super Paua Theatre Company for Aunty Ben, Ireland's first LGBT play for children aged over seven.
The award for Best Small Sponsorship under €25,000 went to PwC and the National College of Art and Design while the award for best large sponsorship over €25,000 was awarded to the Naughton Foundation and Royal Irish Academy for Art and Architecture of Ireland.
The award for Best Use of Creativity in the Community went to Bord Gáis Energy and Bord Gáis Energy Student Theatre Awards. The award for Best Creative Staff Engagement went to KPMG and St Michael's House for its Sensory Stories project and the Jim McNaughton Perpetual Award for Best Commissioning Practice went to Dublin Port Company and Dublin City Council for Cliona Harmey's Dublin Ships.
