On Friday, November 15, 2013, hundreds gathered in Toronto wearing their best dressed to help “encourage strong relationships between business and the arts in order to strengthen our cultural institutions, support our artists and improve quality of life for all,” as part of the Business for the Arts awards program. Canadian jazz icon Molly Johnson hosted the awards with winners including: Best Entrepreneurial Award This award recognizes a business that has taken an entrepreneurial approach to partnering with the arts and realized a challenging project or goal that had not been tried before.
- Winner: Calgary Hotel Association
- Nominated by: Calgary International Film Festival, Calgary Opera and Sled Island
Most Effective Corporate Program Award This award recognizes a business that has implemented an in-depth, comprehensive program to foster the arts and culture sector in Canada, while meeting corporate objectives.
- Winner: RBC Foundation, RBC Emerging Artists Project
- Nominated by: Soulpepper
Most Innovative Marketing Sponsorship Award This award recognizes an innovative partnership with the arts where both the business partner and the arts organization benefit from a unique marketing venture.
- Winner: Robert Lowrey Piano Experts
- Nominated by: Soundstreams
Small Business Partnership Award This award recognizes a business with fewer than 50 employees that has entered into a partnership with the arts.
- Winner: La Scala Home Cinema and Integrated Media
- Nominated by: Vancouver Opera Association
Previously announced award categories to be handed out on November 15, 2013: Edmund C. Bovey Award: Gary Slaight Arnold Edinborough Award: Stephen Delaney artsVest Outstanding Partnership Award: PAVED Arts, the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra and Affinity Credit Union After the gala dinner and award presentation, the The Arnold Party kicked up and attendees danced up a storm to the music. The party attracted arts-minded young professionals to celebrate and encourage leadership and volunteerism in Canadian arts and culture.