GCAC Announces Business Arts Partnership Award Winners

Three local businesses were awarded the Business Arts Partnership Award for their exemplary support of the arts at the Greater Columbus Arts Council's annual meeting, Tuesday, April 25 at the Ohio Statehouse Atrium. Each of the winning companies received an original work of art by a local artist.

Columbus City Council President, Matthew D. Habash presented the awards to this year's winners: Wolfe Associates/Dispatch Printing Company (large business category), nominated the Columbus Association of the Performing Arts (CAPA) and the Wexner Center for the Arts; Jones Day, (medium business category), nominated by the Columbus Symphony Orchestra; and the Brownstone on Main (small business category), nominated by the Red Herring Theatre Ensemble.

"The Business Arts Partnership program was created to recognize the impact that the business community's support has on greater Columbus' cultural and arts organizations," said GCAC Marketing & Communications Director Tim Kauffman. Thirty-one businesses were nominated by local arts organizations for this year's Business Arts Partnership award. "The Business Arts Partnership Committee looks for businesses that have found creative ways to support our arts community," said Marilyn Harris, Business Arts Partnership, Chair. "We know that a vibrant arts community is an important element of economic development, especially in attracting and retaining a strong work force. Business collaborations are crucial to the continued success of our artists and cultural organizations."

Each business chosen for a Business Arts Partnership award received an original work of art by a local artist. This year's artists were Leah Wong, Greg Galvin, and Hani Hara.

Brownstone on Main chosen best of small businesses

Since 2003, the Brownstone on Main has changed the paradigm for dining and entertainment in Columbus, Ohio. The restaurant, situated on three levels, showcases what the best of brownstone living is: intimate spaces, exposed brick walls, expressive lighting themes, and great art.

The Red Herring Theatre Ensemble, in association with CAPA, partnered with the Brownstone on Main to produce "Paul Robeson" in their downstairs cabaret space in February/March 2006.

The Brownstone donated the performance space, and the sound system used in the production. They also provided wait staff and bartenders to serve theatre patrons during the performances, and they fed the actors and crew on Saturday nights between the early and late performances of the show. They promoted the show by featuring table tents on each of the tables in the main bar and dining room, and they offered theatre patrons a dining discount. The Brownstone had a similar arrangement with CATCO in 2005 for "Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill" in the same Brownstone basement cabaret space. The Brownstone on Main received Hani Hara's painted wood sculpture titled "When I dream."

Jones Day wins in medium business category

As one of the largest law firms in Columbus, Jones Day has been in the community for twenty-six years. Jones Day has offered its support to the Symphony in many ways throughout their 22-year partnership. The company has demonstrated its commitment to the Symphony by providing leadership, significant contributions, and substantial in-kind services — all of which have made a great impact on the future of the organization, especially in the last few years of transition and operational challenges. In addition, Jones Day has provided similar leadership and donor commitment plus in-kind reception space for ProMusica Chamber Orchestra. Jones Day's overall responsibility above and beyond all expectations of the Columbus Symphony and ProMusica makes this corporation a great example of Business Arts Partnerships. Jones Day received Greg Galvin's mixed media works titled "Taste," "Breath," and "Release.

Wolfe Associates /Dispatch Printing Company chosen as winner in the large business category

Wolfe Associates/Dispatch Printing Company is a media company, which includes daily and weekly newspapers, magazines and radio stations, real estate and development companies and television stations. Wolfe Associates has been in business since 1871 and employ 2100 in Columbus.

CAPA was created in 1969 to save the Ohio Theatre and Wolfe Associates/The Columbus Dispatch was there to support that initial capital campaign. Wolfe Associates has consistently helped CAPA be a steward of Columbus' historic theatres and return them to their original glory. They helped CAPA add the Galbreath Pavilion to the Ohio Theatre in 1980s and enhance the Ohio Theatre in the 1990s; restore the Southern Theatre in the 1990s; and now the Palace Theatre backstage renovation in 2005.

The Wexner Center for the Arts' relationship with Wolfe Associates goes back to the inception of the Wexner Center in 1989. Annual operating support from Wolfe Associates has helped to provide a strong foundation for the center's programs and activities. Ongoing support from Wolfe Associates significantly enhances Columbus' diverse cultural landscape, providing free meaningful art and cultural experiences for students, children, adults, and families. Wolfe Associates/Dispatch Printing Company received Leah Wong's painting "Super Saturday."

Artistic Excellence Award Goes to King Arts Complex

GCAC also presented its Artistic Excellence Award — given to an arts organization that demonstrates innovation, risk, and artistic excellence in a performance, exhibition or program — to the King Arts Complex's Cargo: The Middle Passage.

On September 22, 2005, the King Arts Complex formally unveiled its new permanent interactive learning area Middle Passage. The installation consists of Ron Anderson's 4' x 23' painting "Cargo," depicting the cramped, crowded, and deadly cargo space of an early slave ship bound for the United States, along with a recreation of the physical space of the middle passage and the sounds of the voyage.

Educational text highlights important factual information about the years of the slave trade such as the number of African people who were taken into slavery, the number who died, and other relevant information. The King Arts Complex's Middle Passage will serve as a conduit of understanding and healing for generations to come.

The other Artistic Excellence nominees were:

BalletMet Columbus'
Alice in Wonderland

Columbus Museum of Art's
Renoir's Women

Columbus Bach Ensemble's
Southern Theatre Debut

CATCO's
You're My Boy, by Herb Brown

GCAC would like to acknowledge and thank Time Warner Cable and NBC 4 for their sponsorship support of the 2006 Business Arts Partnership Awards.