The Enchantment of Partnership: Presenting the Finalists of the 26th Annual Basa Awards

The 26th Annual Basa Awards celebrates the power of collaboration between business and the arts, showcasing exceptional partnerships that rejuvenate communities, spark creativity, and address urgent social and economic issues. The awards honor the transformative collaborations between business and the arts that promote artistic expression, cultural diversity, and shared values in South Africa. The finalists represent a diverse array of partnerships, highlighting the importance of in-kind support, innovation, corporate social investment, and long-term commitment in driving the success of artistic projects.

Unveiling the Power of Collaboration

The fusion of artistic brilliance and tactical alliance often leads to exceptional outcomes in the world of art. This dynamic interplay is the main driving force of the 26th Annual Business and Arts South Africa (Basa) Awards, which recently unveiled a remarkable list of finalists. These awards honor the transformative collaborations between business and the arts, saluting South Africa’s cultural diversity, shared values, and the crucial role that private-public partnerships play in promoting artistic expression and addressing pressing social and economic issues.

At the core of these partnerships lies a unique strength derived from deep collaboration between suitable partners, as emphasized by Basa CEO Ashraf Jacobs-Johaardien. He underlines that partnerships resemble DNA, containing the code of shared values, mutual objectives, and the potential to create something extraordinary. As we explore this year’s finalists, we’ll witness how successful partnerships can rejuvenate communities, spark creativity, and address some of South Africa’s most urgent challenges, such as poverty and inequality.

The live awards ceremony is scheduled for October at the Zeitz MOCAA in Cape Town, an eagerly awaited event that will assemble an assorted mix of artists, business leaders, and industry experts. Through the diverse array of partnerships vying for the coveted awards, we gain insight into the complex threads that bind successful collaborations. To date, the Basa Awards have acknowledged over 320 winning business and arts partnerships, proving that the ideal blend of creativity and strategy can produce exceptional results.

Showcasing Exceptional Collaborations

Examining the nominations, the IDC Community Development Award finalists feature ATKV & Klein Karoo National Arts Festival (KKNK) for Karoo Kaarte, Eyesizwe Mining Development Trust & Market Theatre Foundation for Ditshomo Mentorship Programme, and National Afrikaans Theatre Initiative (NATI) & Suidoosterfees for NATi Jong Sterre/NATi Rising Stars. These partnerships illustrate the power of collaboration in cultivating talent and nurturing creativity within communities.

The First-Time Sponsorship Award, backed by Radisson Red, includes the following inventive partnerships: ANNA Pure Organic & Latitudes Online for The ANNA Award, Blue Ribbon & Baz-Art for Share your Kasi’Pride Campaign with Blue Ribbon, and The Automobile Association of South Africa NPC & ARIVA Arts Organisation for RISE project. These collaborations exhibit the extraordinary outcomes that can be achieved when businesses and artists collaborate for the first time.

In the Heineken Beverages SMME Award category, notable partnerships encompass Avalon Cinema Group: Suncoast CineCentre & Centre for Creative Arts – University of KwaZulu-Natal for Durban International Film Festival, Chiesa di PAZZO LUPi & Barrydale Jazz & Brass Festival NPC for Dark Arts Curfew Club, and Pioneer Freight & Hermanus FynArts for Art Guide Training Programme. These partnerships highlight the crucial role that small and medium enterprises can play in supporting artistic expression and development.

Celebrating Innovation and Longevity

The Sunglass Hut Sponsorship In-Kind Award finalists comprise Avalon Cinema Group: Suncoast CineCentre & Centre for Creative Arts-University of KwaZulu-Natal for Durban International Film Festival, UpstART Galleries & META Foundation for Art Feeds, and The Standard Bank of South Africa Limited & Blessing Ngobeni for Priceless Print. These collaborations stress the importance of in-kind support in driving the success of artistic projects.

The Innovation Award category showcases truly groundbreaking collaborations, such as Blue Ribbon & Baz-Art for Share your Kasi’Pride campaign with Blue Ribbon, E-Squared Investments & Sunshine Cinema for Spark Impact Program, and Standard Bank of South Africa Limited & Bee Diamondhead for We Are Culture. These partnerships demonstrate how business and arts collaborations can push the boundaries of creative expression and innovation.

The IDC CSI Award finalists feature Chickenland (Pty) Ltd t/a Nando’s & Meta Foundation for OpenStudios X Nando’s, The Sanlam Foundation Trust & Zip Zap Circus School Trust for Zappers Programme, and TotalEnergies Marketing South Africa (Pty) Ltd & Sibikwa Community Project NPC (T/A Sibikwa Arts Centre) for The Sibikwa Arts Academy and Sibikwa’s Inclusive Development, Education and Advocacy (IDEA) Programme. These collaborations showcase the remarkable potential of corporate social investment to drive positive change and development in the arts.

The prestigious British Council Beyond Borders Award acknowledges international collaborations that push artistic boundaries, with finalists including Africa Contemporary Art/Just Art International & Reframe House for Spiral of Containment, E-Squared Investments & Sunshine Cinema for Spark Impact Program, and Ideon Inc. & National Children’s Theatre (NCT) for Rebranding NCT.

Lastly, the Celebrating Long-Term Commitment: Heineken Beverages Long-Term Partnership Award highlights longstanding collaborations that have withstood the test of time, such as the partnership between ATKV & Klein Karoo National Arts Festival (KKNK) for Karoo Kaarte and Eyesizwe Mining Development Trust & Market Theatre Foundation for Ditshomo Mentorship Programme. The Spier Wine Farm & Third World Bunfight partnership for Third World Bunfight is also notable for its long-term dedication to artistic progress.

As we eagerly anticipate the announcement of the winners on October 13th during a hybrid ceremony streamed live from the Zeitz MOCAA, it’s evident that the 26th Annual Basa Awards will continue to inspire and celebrate the enchantment of collaboration between business and the arts.

What are the Basa Awards?

The Basa Awards celebrate the power of collaboration between business and the arts, showcasing exceptional partnerships that rejuvenate communities, spark creativity, and address urgent social and economic issues.

What do the finalists of the Basa Awards represent?

he finalists represent a diverse array of partnerships, highlighting the importance of in-kind support, innovation, corporate social investment, and long-term commitment in driving the success of artistic projects.

What is the significance of deep collaboration in partnerships?

The CEO of Basa emphasizes that partnerships resemble DNA, containing the code of shared values, mutual objectives, and the potential to create something extraordinary.

What are some notable partnerships among the finalists?

Notable partnerships include those in the categories of IDC Community Development Award, First-Time Sponsorship Award, Heineken Beverages SMME Award, Sunglass Hut Sponsorship In-Kind Award, Innovation Award, IDC CSI Award, British Council Beyond Borders Award, and Celebrating Long-Term Commitment: Heineken Beverages Long-Term Partnership Award.

When and where will the Basa Awards ceremony take place?

The live awards ceremony is scheduled for October at the Zeitz MOCAA in Cape Town, and will be a hybrid ceremony streamed live.