But over the years, the arts community has learned to roll with the punches -- and the punchlines -- and the audience recovered in time for CBCA executive director Deborah Jordy to name this year's award-winners: the Westin Denver Downtown, Battery621, Aspen Skiing Company and Frederic C. Hamilton, who will all receive an ultra-cool set of prints by local artists.
Here's the full announcement:
Four Winners of the 2012 CBCA Business for the Arts Awards AnnouncedAwards honor Colorado businesses and leaders that leverage the arts for success
Denver, CO - Colorado Business Committee for the Arts (CBCA) honored businesses and leaders for their exemplary partnerships and engagement with the arts at the 25th annual CBCA Business for the Arts Awards luncheon, Tuesday, March 6, 2012, at the Denver Performing Arts Complex. Over 700 business, cultural and civic leaders attended this arts-infused celebration. The Honorable Governor of Colorado, John Hickenlooper said, "Partnerships between arts and business help define Colorado. These types of collaborative efforts attract new businesses to our state and go hand in hand with the innovative spirit that makes Colorado a great place to live, work and play."
2012 Business for the Arts Awards Winners
Winners were announced in the following four categories from twelve finalists:
Impact Award highlights innovative use of the arts to propel business strategies and success
Aspen Skiing Company - for partnering contemporary art with skiing, both on and off the slopes ---- John Madden, Jr. Leadership Award recognizes a business sector individual who has made significant contributions to advancing arts and culture in Colorado
Frederic C. Hamilton - for his philanthropy, leadership, vision and entrepreneurship on behalf of the Denver Art Museum ---- Philanthropy Award honors exemplary corporate citizenship and generosity to arts and cultural projects and organizations
The Westin Denver Downtown - for their arts and cultural sponsorships of nonprofits that perform, produce or exhibit in Denver ---- Workspace Award pays tribute to an exceptional work environment that advances business objectives
Battery621 - for the transformation of a former warehouse into a shared creative space and events venue
The distinguished judging panel for the 2012 Business for the Arts Awards was comprised of the following business and cultural leaders:
• Tami Door, President and Chief Executive Officer, Downtown Denver Partnership • Mark Falcone, Chief Executive Officer and Founder, Continuum Partners • Dan Howard, Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, University of Colorado Denver • Richard Scharf, President and Chief Executive Officer, VISIT DENVER
Lead sponsors of the event were Ernst & Young and Pinnacol Assurance and additional sponsors of the 2012 Business for the Arts Awards include Anadarko Petroleum Corporation, Delta Dental of Colorado, GE Johnson Construction Company, Kaiser Permanente, Snell & Wilmer, The John Madden Company, The Publishing House, CBS4, ColoradoBIZ Magazine and The Denver Post Community.
Inspiring entertainment was provided by Ballet Nouveau Colorado, Denver Art Museum, Denver Centre Attractions, The Wildlife Experience, Molly Brown House, Stories on Stage and René Heredia, Flamenco Guitarist.
Colorado artists Theresa Haberkorn, Mark Lunning, Jim Milmoe and Tony Ortega created unique prints as part of CBCA's PrintFolio project, an initiative of CBCA's Leadership Arts Alumni Network. A complete set was awarded to each winner. Additional information about the works and the artists is available at www.cbca.org.
Colorado Business Committee for the Arts (CBCA) is a catalyst for Colorado's business community to leverage the arts for economic vitality. CBCA is a member organization of leading companies that have a philanthropic commitment to the arts and recognize the link between cultural vitality and creative and innovative success. Over 130 metro area businesses are members of CBCA. Established in 1985 by local business leaders, CBCA is now an affiliate of Americans for the Arts and formerly of the National Business Committee for the Arts founded by David Rockefeller in 1967. CBCA is a proud recipient of the Denver 2010 Mayors' Award for Excellence in the Arts.
