Nichole Anderson, President of Business for the Arts, Canada's national business association working to broaden and deepen relationships between business and the arts, today announced that it has opened the nomination period for the 32nd annual Business for the Arts Awards. Arts and Cultural organizations across Canada are invited to submit their nominations by April 2nd, 2008.  They are also announcing a new award recognizing business volunteers in the Arts under the age of 40.

March 7th, 2008

Nichole Anderson, President of Business for the Arts, Canada's national business association working to broaden and deepen relationships between business and the arts, today announced that it has opened the nomination period for the 32nd annual Business for the Arts Awards. Arts and Cultural organizations across Canada are invited to submit their nominations by April 2nd, 2008.  They are also announcing a new award recognizing business volunteers in the Arts under the age of 40.

The Awards will be celebrated at a gala dinner in the Fall, with the top arts and business leaders attending. The awards include a new award, the Arnold Edinborough Award, named after the founding President of Business for the Arts, celebrating young business volunteers in the Arts. 

The Awards open for nominations include:

-   The Globe and Mail Business for the Arts Awards, recognizing businesses that have created exceptional partnerships with the Arts in Canada.

-   The Edmund C. Bovey Award, given to an outstanding Business Leader in the Arts. The Award has gone to 17 major business philanthropists in the Arts over the years, including Michael Koerner, C.M., Jim Pitbaldo, O.C., Michael Audin, Israel Asper and Don Johnson. 

-   New this year will be The Arnold Edinborough Award, celebrating business volunteers in the Arts under 40.

The "Arnold Edinborough Award has been launched in honour of Business for the Arts' founding President to recognize the young business leaders in Canada who dedicate a tremendous amount of time and energy volunteering for the Arts while busy building a career. The award is a fitting tribute to Arnold, since he was instrumental in founding the Business for the Arts Awards as well as the Young in Art program, helping young business people find rewarding positions in the Arts as Board Members." said James D. Fleck, Chairman of the Board. The winner of this new Award will receive an original Canadian artwork created by an emerging artist, along with a cheque for $5,000 for the arts organization of their choice. They will be recognized at the gala dinner this Fall celebrated at a special event in the Fall run by artsScene, Business for the Arts' young business professionals group.

For more details on the Awards, please visit www.businessforthearts.org

The deadline for all awards nominations is April 2, 2008. Nomination forms are available by visiting www.businessforthearts.org/awards