NH Business Committee for the Arts revamps its annual Arts Awards program

‘With a significant increase in applications from the arts community last year, we were inspired to reimagine our signature business awards,’ says Tricia Soule, executive direcetor of the NH Business Conmittee for the Arts.

After nearly four decades of honoring the business community’s involvement in the arts, The NH Business Committee for the Arts has decided to “reimagine” its awards program.

“With a significant increase in applications from the arts community last year, we were inspired to reimagine our signature business awards,” said Tricia Soule, the organization’s executive director. “As an organization that values and celebrates creativity, we think it is important to present more unique business award categories that reflect our current business landscape. It is our hope that these more clearly defined parameters will encourage more businesses to share their good work in our communities as examples to others.”

Applications and nominations are open through Feb. 17 for the 39th annual Arts Awards. Entries are open to individuals, businesses and organizations that make a significant contribution to the state’s arts and cultural scene through cross-sector partnerships, philanthropy and leadership.

The newly reworked awards will be presented based on the number of employees, to recognize the business community’s support of arts and culture.

New Hampshire businesses that supported the arts in 2022 are eligible for awards and the new business categories include:

• Fanfare: The award will be given to a small business with up to 49 employees that makes the most of their investment or in-kind support of the arts by cross-promoting the organization, project, program or other initiative they support to their networks via newsletters, advertising, social media and news stories.
• Dyed-in-the-Wool: This award will be presented to a medium-sized business with 50 to 200 employees that has provided steadfast support to a specific arts or cultural organizations for at least five consecutive years.
• Boundless Generosity: The award for a large business with more than 200 employees will recognize a company that contributes to arts organizations throughout New Hampshire. Special consideration will be given to businesses that fund projects, programs, events and organizations in every region of the state.

In addition, the Business Leader Award has been renamed the Changemaker, honoring a business leader who inspires others with their longstanding support of the arts, exceptional leadership, vision and commitment in encouraging and developing the partnership between business and the arts. Special consideration is given to business leaders who have played a critical role in transforming an arts or cultural organization through volunteer board service. This is a highly selective category, and the award is not given out every year.

Other arts awards to be presented are:

• Bayberry Financial Services Artrepreneur Award, presented to a professional artist-entrepreneur from any discipline who has successfully collaborated with other artists and/or utilized technology to grow their creative practice and business. Most of the artist’s income must be derived from their creative business.
• Northeast Delta Dental Artsbuild Community Award, to be given to an arts or cultural organization that formed an unconventional coalition – a successful partnership with a group that the organization would otherwise not cross paths. This can be a social services agency, nonprofit organization in another sector or a municipality. The intent of the collaboration must be to establish opportunities for sustained access to arts and culture through public engagement in projects, programs, or events. It cannot be with a business.

Deadline for submission is Friday, Feb. 17 and can be submitted online at NHBCA.com. Winners are selected by an independent selection committee made up of esteemed judges.

The awards will be presented during at the 39th annual Arts Awards Gala, to be held Monday, May 8, at the DoubleTree by Hilton Manchester Downtown.