EDINBURGH Airport, Stakis Hotels, Bank of Scotland, and Scottish Hydro-Electric were last night among the companies, large and small, recognised for their contribution to the arts in Scotland, writes Keith Bruce, arts editor.
The eleventh annual ABSA (Association for Business Sponsorship of the Arts) Scotland awards ceremony, at Edinburgh's Festival Theatre, was attended by 500 representatives of the arts and business.
The award for the best use of brand sponsorship went to BAA Edinburgh Airport and the Edinburgh International Festival for the identification of the airport as Gateway to the Festival and its support of a performance of Rossini's Petite Messe Solenelle .
Stakis Hotels won the award for first time sponsorship for picking up the baton of Book Trust Scotland's annual book award. The first annual Stakis Prize was won last year by Aonghas MacNeacail's Oideachadh Ceart (A Proper Schooling).
Bank of Scotland was commended for continuing support of the Scottish International Children's Festival and won the award for increasing accessibility to the arts for its commitment to the Readiscovery Book Bus, which has been touring Scotland for three years promoting literature and literacy to remote communities.
Scottish Hydro-Electric was the winner of the ''continuing support'' category for its partnership with the Traverse Theatre which sustains the company's annual Highland tour of a new play.
Elf Exploration UK won the single project award for its sponsorship of the Scottish National Portrait Gallery's Raeburn exhibition and was commended for its support for new work by Glasgow's Theatre Cryptic.
Other awards went to Walter Scott and Partners (Scottish Opera), Stewarts Colour Print (Fotofeis), and Classic Malts (Carnyx and Co). The specially designed awards were commissioned from Arbroath-based artist Carole Storm.
ABSA Scotland director Alison Hogg said ''business invovement in the arts is on the increase''.
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