Standard Bank has won the Leadership in the Arts award at the inaugural CNBC All Africa Business Leader Awards (AABLA)
The Leadership in the Arts Award is presented to a company, organisation or individual who has consistently supported the arts as a valuable contributor to Africa’s identity and artistic culture, by committing time, energy and resources to making the arts accessible to the broader community, to encouraging artists their creative endeavours and supporting arts education.The award, presented in collaboration with the Department of Arts and Culture, acknowledges Standard Bank’s extensive and long-standing sponsorship of the arts. This is aptly demonstrated through: its loyal support of the annual National Arts Festival in Grahamstown since 1984; the role it has played in the development of jazz, in particular its long-term support of the annual Joy of Jazz Festival; its support of young and upcoming artists through individual sponsorships and study programmes, such as the annual Standard bank Young Artist Awards; and for preserving some of South Africa’s artistic heritage through the Standard Bank Corporate Art Collection and the Standard Bank African Art Collection, as well as its ongoing sponsorship of the Standard Bank Gallery, Johannesburg, which showcases both emerging and established artists, and offers a range of educational and public programmes to learners of all ages.As Head of Arts and Jazz Sponsorships Mandie van der Spuy noted, “Standard Bank recognises the value of the arts and the role that it plays both in the lives of our customers and the broader community. We are privileged to have been able to lend our support to the development and promotion of some of South Africa’s most extraordinary talents.” Other award categories were Africa Business Leader of the Year; Africa Business Woman of the Year; and Africa Entrepreneur of the Year. Judges included Yunus Suleman, chairman of KPMG South Africa; Godfrey Mutizwa, chief editor of CNBC Africa; Nic Binedell, founder and director of the Gordon Institute of Business Science; and Russel Loubser, CE of the Johannesburg Stock exchange.
