2022 Arts and Business Partnership Awards (ABPA) Update

Dear Community,

The business community has always been a critical part of Americans for the Art’s cross-sector partnership work. There is much to learn from these relationships, and we are continually energized by the stories of arts and business working together to better civic life, social issues, and people in and out of the workplace.

As you may know, Americans for the Art’s initiated a Strategic Realignment Process this year to redefine its unique role as a service organization to the arts and culture field and the public good. As this process begins to culminate, I am pleased to share that the business community remains a core focus area at Americans for the Arts. These relationships at the local and national level are essential to expanding the arts’ value, policies, and integration into business, community, and economic strategies. 

We are delighted to invite business colleagues and allies to reunite in person during the National Arts Awards on October 17, 2022 at Guastavino’s in New York City. You will join more than 300 of the world's top artists and philanthropic leaders to recognize the achievements of a wide range of individuals that exhibit outstanding leadership in the visual and performing arts, arts education, and philanthropy. One esteemed honor this year goes to business leader, Robert F. Smith, Founder and CEO of Vista Equity Partners. Smith is an avid supporter of the arts and has donated millions of dollars to preserve and expand access to arts and music including significant investments in the National Museum of African American History, Sphinx Organization, and Carnegie Hall. A strong presence by the national business community to honor a fellow business leader, among a slate of accomplished honorees, exemplifies a celebration of the private sector and its important role in a healthy arts ecosystem. We sincerely hope you will take this opportunity to convene, connect with cross-sector leaders, members of the board of directors, staff, and enjoy a beautiful evening in New York City. 

With the National Arts Awards as a central convener, we will not produce the annual Arts and Business Partnership Awards gala this year. We know that there are arts groups and businesses engaging in terrific work together, especially in the wake of Covid-19, and we want to know and uplift those stories. Please submit your stories at any time here: https://www.partnershipmovement.org/covid-19 or directly to Amy Webb at the email below. We look forward to highlighting through our communications channels and following-up for features.

During this next period of work, please direct any concerns and feedback to Amy Webb, Senior Director of Business Programs and Partnerships at [email protected], or Daniel Fitzmaurice, Chief of Staff at [email protected].

Sincerely, 

Nolen V. Bivens  

President, and CEO 

Celebrating the Best Businesses Partnering with the Arts

The Arts and Business Partnership Award is a national recognition given annually to businesses that have mutually beneficial, innovative, and sustained partnerships with the arts. Each year, winners of this award are celebrated at The Arts and Business Partnership Awards Gala in New York City and become part of a network of like-minded businesses and leaders. These companies set the standard for excellence and serve as role models for others to follow. Americans for the Arts has honored companies across the nation, including Microsoft, Hallmark, Scholastic, and Walt Disney World Resort.

Over the last 15 years, Americans for the Arts has recognized more than 150 companies for their support of the arts through BCA 10: Best Businesses Partnering with the Arts in America. On its 15th anniversary, we shared its new name, Arts and Business Partnership Awards.

View the Winners Archive to learn more about previous honorees.

Photo: Sean Conroy of Square and Julie Garreau of Cheyenne River Youth Project accept the David Rockefeller pARTnership Award from Camilla Rockefeller.

What are the awards categories?

The main awards are given for their partnerships with the arts, which demonstrate exceptional involvement with the arts that enrich the workplace, education, and the community. Past honorees include Aetna, Hallmark, Microsoft, and Walt Disney World Resort.

The BCA Leadership Award is given in recognition of a person's leadership in supporting the arts. Past awardees include Jorge M. Pérez, Christopher "Kip" Forbes, Martha R. Ingram, and Chandrika Tandon. 

The David Rockefeller Fund Award recognizes an exceptional project, program, or initiative that represents a true alliance, collaboration, or exchange between the two. Our past two winners are Square + Cheyenne River Youth Project and Gensler + Access Gallery.

Who can nominate a company?
Anyone can do it—an individual, an arts organization, PR company or business employee.

Which companies are eligible?

Businesses of all sizes that support the arts in the United States are eligible. Tax-exempt nonprofit organizations are ineligible (except for hospitals). Once a company has been selected as an honoree, there is a 3-year period of ineligibility before another nomination can be submitted. Eligible businesses also can be nominated for the David Rockefeller pARTnership Award, in tandem with a tax-exempt arts organization, or an individual artist (public schools are not eligible to receive the David Rockefeller Award). Nominations received for the David Rockefeller Award also will be reviewed for the main 6 awards.

Businesses who have leadership serving on the Business Committee for the Arts or Americans for the Arts are not eligible.

For the BCA Leadership Award, senior executives are eligible.

What information is needed to nominate a company?
You are asked to submit a 600-word nomination statement. This statement should address how the nominee supports the arts including: leadership, long-term commitment, impact, addressing community needs, employee and customer involvement, and encouraging other companies to support the arts.

What happens after a nomination form is submitted?
After a nomination form is submitted, Americans for the Arts will reach out by email, using the company contact information provided in the nomination form, with a questionnaire designed to elicit more specific information about the company's arts engagement and support. Completed questionnaires (typically between 3 and 6 pages in length) and nomination forms will be sent to our panel of judges, who are representatives from the worlds of arts and business. All nominators and nominees will be notified of the results once the decisions have been tallied. The BCA Leadership Award and David Rockefeller Fund pARTnership Award are selected by our Business Committee for the Arts.

Learn more about the Awards. Questions? Send an email to [email protected].

The following companies have recently been honored at the Arts and Business Partnership Awards gala for their outstanding support of the arts. They are currently ineligible for the 2021 Arts and Business Partnership Awards. We congratulate them on their recent honor!