Thirty-one partnerships have been shortlisted for the 2026 Business to Arts Awards, highlighting the growing role that collaboration between business and the arts is playing in communities across Ireland. From cultural institutions to grassroots initiatives, this year’s shortlist showcases projects that are expanding access to arts and culture, engaging audiences with pressing social and environmental issues, and investing in Ireland’s creative future.
The 2026 shortlist also reflects a significant broadening of corporate engagement with the arts. Companies including Diageo Ireland, Staycity, Kennedy Wilson, Peugeot Ireland, Sigma Benelux, Clarendon Properties, Bam Ireland and CJK Engineering feature among the shortlisted partnerships, joining long-established supporters of the sector. Together, the shortlisted projects demonstrate how businesses from an increasingly diverse range of industries are recognising the value of partnering with artists and arts organisations to create lasting cultural, social and community impact.
Across this year’s shortlist, three themes emerge strongly: using creativity to inspire environmental engagement; supporting the long-term development of Ireland’s cultural sector; and a commitment to ensuring that arts and culture are accessible to wider audiences.
In The Irish Times long-term partnership award category, SMBC Aviation Capital and National Gallery of Ireland: Nationwide Schools Programme have brought arts education opportunities to children and young people across the State for more than five years. Through school residencies, outreach initiatives and teacher development programmes, the partnership is helping to ensure that geography is not a barrier to cultural participation.
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In the CBRE major arts partnership award category, KPMG Ireland and National Gallery of Ireland: Picasso From the Studio demonstrates how business support can broaden access to major art and culture experiences. The partnership enabled thousands of free tickets, helping children, school groups, and wider audiences engage with one of the gallery’s most successful exhibitions in recent years.
Access is also central to Clancourt and The Ark: Ark Access, shortlisted for the creative access award. Working with Deis schools across Dublin, the initiative provides children with opportunities to engage with performances, exhibitions, workshops and artist-led activities, helping to build lasting connections with arts and culture from an early age.
Another notable trend across this year’s shortlist is the growing use of arts and culture to engage communities with environmental issues.
In the ESB Creative Sustainability Award category, Philip Lee & IMMA: The Court for Intergenerational Climate Crimes at Earth Rising 2025 used contemporary art and public dialogue to explore climate justice and environmental responsibility. The project demonstrated how cultural spaces can encourage audiences to engage with complex global issues in accessible and meaningful ways.
Meanwhile, in the Irish Life creativity in the community award category, Cuilcagh Lakelands Geopark and AlanJames Burns: Divergently Together brought together disabled and neurodivergent people to explore the connections between human neurodiversity and environmental biodiversity. The project, centred in the Cavan Burren Geopark, emphasised how natural landscapes and their diverse layers can help individuals understand their own unique needs and identities, fostering a sense of belonging.
Alongside projects focused on participation and public engagement, this year’s shortlist also highlights partnerships investing in the long-term future of Ireland’s cultural sector.
In the CBRE major arts partnership award category, Kennedy Wilson and Photo Ireland: The International Centre for the Image has established a new home for photography, research, production and exhibition at Coopers Cross in Dublin. Bringing together artist studios, archives, workshops and exhibition spaces, the project represents a significant investment in cultural infrastructure and in the future development of photographic practice in Ireland.
A similar commitment to long-term artistic support can be seen in Ipsos B&A and Graphic Studio Dublin partnership, shortlisted for the Jim McNaughton/TileStyle perpetual award for best commissioning practice. For more than 35 years, the partnership has supported artists through annual commissions while championing contemporary printmaking, demonstrating the lasting impact of sustained corporate support for the arts. The awards also recognise the importance of philanthropy through the community foundation Ireland arts philanthropy award, with the recipient announced on awards night.
Together, the projects recognised in this year’s shortlist demonstrate the breadth and ambition of arts and business partnerships taking place across Ireland today. Whether expanding access to arts and culture, engaging communities with environmental challenges or investing in the long-term development of artists and cultural organisations, these collaborations highlight the increasingly important role partnership can play in shaping Ireland’s cultural future.
On Monday, September 7th, the 34th Business to Arts Awards will take place at the National Concert Hall. A cornerstone of Ireland’s corporate and cultural calendar, the event will bring together more than 500 leaders from the business and arts communities to celebrate outstanding partnerships and enjoy performances from some of the country’s most exciting emerging talent.
The awards recognise excellence across arts sponsorship, philanthropy, commissioning, corporate social responsibility and creative community engagement. Spanning 10 categories and three bursaries, they highlight the powerful synergy between business ambition and artistic excellence, and the continuing strength of Ireland’s dynamic creative sector.
As the business and arts communities prepare to gather at the National Concert Hall in September, this year’s shortlist offers a compelling snapshot of the partnerships helping to shape Ireland’s cultural future and a reminder of what can be achieved when creativity, ambition and shared purpose come together.
2026 Business to Arts Awards shortlist
CBRE major arts partnership award
- Diageo Ireland and The Liberties Festival
- Staycity and Throwing Shapes: Clay City
- KPMG Ireland and National Gallery of Ireland: Picasso From the Studio
- Kennedy Wilson and Photo Ireland: The International Centre for the Image
Small arts partnership award
- Peugeot Ireland and Irish Film Institute: The Lion Loves Cinema!
- basis.point and The Gate Theatre: Live Stream of POOR
- UCC and Cork International Film Festival: 70th Cork International Film Festival
- Sigma Benelux and Photo Museum Ireland: Sigma Talents Scholarship Programme
The Irish Times long-term partnership award
- SMBC Aviation Capital and National Gallery of Ireland: Nationwide Schools Programme
- Ecclesiastical Insurance and Wexford Festival Opera: Volunteer Programme
- ESB and National Concert Hall: Quavers to Quadratics
- Dublin City Council and St Patrick’s Festival
Irish Life creativity in the community award
- Iarnród Éireann and Artur Oner: Welcome to Courtney Place
- The Digital Hub and HoloGen: Roblox Rising Producers
- Cuilcagh Lakelands Geopark and AlanJames Burns: Divergently Together
- IPUT Real Estate Dublin and National Concert Hall: Festival of Voice
Creativity in the workplace award
- Fitzgerald Power and The Walls Project: Signs of Power
- CJK and Five Lamps Arts Festival: Christmas Song Contest
- Connected Hubs and Contemporary Irish Art Society: Art in the Hubs
ESB creative sustainability award
- Philip Lee and Imma: CICC at Earth Rising 2025
- Offaly and Meath County Councils and Irish Architecture Foundation: Bog Bothy
- Clarendon Properties, Bam Ireland and Jools Gilson: Mapping Climate Change
- ACT Waterford, Calmast SETU and Sean Corcoran: Crockery Mountain
Jim McNaughton/TileStyle perpetual award for best commissioning practice
- Sample-Studios, Fleetwood Paints and Cork Opera House: Illuminating the Archives
- Ipsos B&A and Graphic Studio Dublin: Ipsos B&A Art Collection
- Irish Life and James Earley: Life In Threes
Creative access award
- basis.point and The Gate Theatre: Live Stream of POOR
- Specsavers Limerick and University Concert Hall: Panto for All
- Clancourt and The Ark: Ark Access
- Ecclesiastical Insurance, Katharine Howard Foundation and Music Network: Lullaby Residency
Additionally, a total of €25,000 will be presented to successful artists and arts organisations through bursaries and awards on the night.
- Jim McNaughton/TileStyle €10,000 artist’s bursary
- Accenture €10,000 digital innovation in art bursary
- The Irish Times €5,000 arts award
Judging panel
The 2026 Business to Arts Awards judging panel comprised:
- Aoife Barry, freelance arts and culture journalist
- Jerry O’Connor, director of communications, Community Foundation Ireland
- Diego Fasciati, executive director, Irish National Opera
- Bernadine Hogan, executive director, CBRE
- Jillian Saunders, group sponsorship and PR manager, ESB
- Nadine O’Regan, journalist, The Irish Times
- Susan Jackson, senior marketing manager, Irish Life
For more information, visit businesstoarts.ie
