The 2025 Business to Arts Awards showcase the transformative power of partnerships between businesses, artists, and arts organisations, with this year’s shortlist reflecting a continuing focus on inclusion, community engagement, wellbeing and sustainability.
On Monday, September 8th the 33rd Business to Arts Awards will take place at the National Concert Hall. This flagship event is a cornerstone of the corporate-cultural calendar, bringing together more than 500 leaders from the business and arts communities to honour outstanding creative partnerships and enjoy performances from some of the country’s most exciting emerging talent.
The awards celebrate excellence in arts sponsorship, philanthropy, commissioning, corporate social responsibility and creative community engagement. Encompassing 10 categories and three bursaries, each highlights the synergy between business acumen and artistic excellence, a reflection of Ireland’s dynamic and resilient creative sector.
This year introduces the ESB creative sustainability award, a timely addition recognising partnerships that address environmental themes. The award champions sustainability initiatives and honours the power of arts and culture in shaping a greener future.
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Business to Arts was delighted to see diverse new business entrants this year make it through to the shortlist, including Ace Autobody, Clancourt, Peugeot, Xestra Asset Management, Specavers and Aeolus Engine Services.
New sponsorships include the Community Foundation Ireland arts philanthropy award, underlining the shared belief of both Community Foundation and Business to Arts in the transformative power of private support for the arts; the CBRE creativity in the workplace award expressing CBRE’s holistic approach to the contemporary workplace; Catapult, the awards creative production partner have taken over supporting the annual awards sculpture commission from DAA; and The Irish Times will now proudly support the €5,000 arts award.
This year’s Business to Arts Awards shortlist highlights unique partnerships in communities all over the country where businesses have found creative ways to express their company values by aligning with arts initiatives.
In the Jim McNaughton/TileStyle best commissioning practice category, Drogheda Port Company deepened connections to local heritage through a wonderful collaboration with artist Emily McCormack, bringing the community together to commemorate the 1871 shipwreck of the Brig Manley.
Also nominated in the same category, the Sherkin North Shore and Open Ear Festival island residency programme demonstrates the role of site‑specific collaboration. This initiative stemmed from a shared love of music and the natural beauty of the island, where the location’s extremity inspired artists. CBRE creativity in the workplace category sees wonderful regional activation of the arts in workspaces across the Connected Hubs nationally with the Contemporary Irish Arts Society, and via a new initiative from Cork and Kerry County Council bringing artist workshops into workplaces in the region.
In the Irish Life creativity in the community category, Fishamble co-produced Taigh Ty Teach, with support from the British Irish Chamber of Commerce. The tri‑lingual theatre project explored issues common to native speaking people in the Kerry Gaeltacht, Heartlands of Wales, and Highlands of Scotland.
Expanding access, inclusion and wellbeing
This year the themes of access and belonging are reflected across several categories. In the Irish Life creativity in the community category, Rethink Ireland, in partnership with TikTok and the Dublin International Film Festival, demonstrates the role of digital media in fostering inclusion with a programme introducing young people from Ballymun and inner‑city Dublin to the process of film-making, giving a voice to an under‑represented community and opening a pathway to reimagine their careers.
In the Community Foundation Ireland arts philanthropy category, Ecclesiastical Insurance Ireland and the Royal Irish Academy of Music partnered to launch the Co-Creative Music Composition Programme, supporting people with disabilities to create music alongside RIAM students. The initiative provides an inclusive platform for diverse musical expression, breaking down barriers and benefiting participants’ wellbeing.
In the creative access award category, Clancourt and The Ark partnered to deliver free, high-quality arts experiences to children from five Deis schools in Dublin. More than 600 pupils and 65 teachers took part in performances, exhibitions and in-school workshops, many experiencing live arts for the first time. The initiative reflects a shared commitment to inclusive placemaking, with evolving programming that builds lasting school and community engagement.
Also recognised in this category, a collaboration with St John of God Liffey Services was co-designed by adults with intellectual disabilities, offering immersive, multisensory artistic experiences that centred participant voices. Presented in big venues such as the RHA, it showcased inclusive work shaped through collaborative methods while affirming the right to cultural participation and advancing inclusive practice across the sector.
Spotlight on sustainability
Environmental stewardship emerges strongly within the new ESB creative sustainability award category, where partnerships used creative expression to deepen public awareness of environmental challenges and inspire sustainable behaviour. Irish Rail collaborated with artists Mild and Laura McMahon using decommissioned railway signage to build an art installation marking the annual return of rare migratory birds, little terns, at Kilcoole Train Station. The piece highlights the role of public spaces in promoting conservation and raising ecological awareness.
MaREI and Croí Glan partnered to produce Change, a dance performance co-created with scientists to inspire climate action. The project combined art, science and community engagement through performances, educational materials, discussions and workshops.
Also shortlisted in this category is the Environmental Protection Agency and The National Library of Ireland’s partnership with photographer Paula T Nolan. Created to mark the EPA’s 30th anniversary, this photographer‑in‑residence initiative captures the evolving character of the Irish landscape, combining artistic expression with environmental record‑keeping, serving as a vital record for future generations.
The 2025 Business to Arts Awards shortlist
Major arts partnership award – €25,000 and above
- Ace Autobody & Royal Irish Academy of Music: RIAM Spotlight Awards
- Xestra Asset Management & Dublin City Council Arts Office: Artane Artist Studios
- Dublin Port Company & Temple Bar Gallery + Studios: Longest Way Round, Shortest Way Home
- Tanqueray 0.0% & Dublin International Film Festival
Small arts partnership award – under €25,000
- Kildare Credit Union & Blueway Art Studio: A Little Book of Brigid
- Clinch Wealth Management & ANU Productions, Landmark Productions, MoLI: The Dead
- Aeolus Engine Services & Sing Ireland
- Samaritans & Smashing Times: Acting for the Future
The Irish Times long-term partnership award
- HLB Ireland & Graphic Studio Dublin: Echoes of Home
- Henry J Lyons & Temple Bar Gallery + Studios: Dublin Art Book Fair
- University of Galway & Druid
- Clem Jacob Hire & Spraoi International Street Arts Festival
Irish Life creativity in the community award
- British Irish Chamber of Commerce & Fishamble: Taigh Ty Teach
- WALK & Smashing Times
- Rethink Ireland in partnership with TikTok & Dublin International Film Festival: Irish Film Pioneers
CBRE creativity in the workplace award
- Cork & Kerry County Councils & Sample-Studios: Make or Break
- Connected Hubs & Contemporary Irish Art Society
- Spencer Lennox & Irish National Opera: INO Future Leaders Network
ESB creative sustainability award
- Irish Rail & Mild, Laura McMahon: Tern the Tide
- Environmental Protection Agency, National Library & Paula T Nolan: Photographer in Residence
- MaREI & Croí Glan: CHANGE
- Native Events & IMMA: Earth Rising
Jim McNaughton/TileStyle best commissioning practice award
- Peugeot, Ruth Medjber & Photo Museum Ireland: Her, Allure
- Irish Life & The Meditative Creative: Our City, Our Future.
- Drogheda Port Company & Emily McCormack: Brig Manley
- Sherkin North Shore & Open Ear Festival: Island Residency Programme
Creative access award
- Clancourt & The Ark: Ark Access
- St John of God & Dr Sinead McCann, AlanJames Burns: Our Place
- Specsavers Limerick & University Concert Hall: Panto For All
- The Ireland Funds & Irish Chamber Orchestra
Community Foundation Ireland arts philanthropy award
- Tomar Trust
- Ecclesiastical Insurance Ireland for Movement for Good
- Bank of Ireland for Begin Together Arts Fund
Judges’ special recognition award
- Cork International Film Festival with Murphy’s, Tomar Trust, Future Planet, Irish Examiner & The Arc Cinema Cork
- Cork Midsummer with Tomar Trust, Ecclesiastical Insurance & University College Cork
- RIAM & Ace Autobody, Clinch Wealth Management & Ecclesiastical Insurance
The following awards will also be presented on September 8th:
- Jim McNaughton/TileStyle €10,000 artist’s bursary
- Accenture €10,000 digital innovation in art bursary
- The Irish Times €5,000 arts award
The judging panel was:
- Bernice Harrison, journalist and co-host of In the News podcast, The Irish Times
- Meadhbh McClean, chief operating officer and executive director, CBRE
- Mella Cahill, senior grants and donor care executive, Community Foundation Ireland
- Sarah Sharkey, corporate reputation manager, ESB
- Susan Jackson, senior marketing manager, Irish Life
- Gerard McNaughton, creative director, TileStyle
- Chaired by Simon O’Connor, director, Independent Arts (formerly MoLI)
For more information head to businesstoarts.ie
