A&B Cymru Awards 2023
Flagship Celebration Returns
Wales’ best creative partnerships recognised in a glittering ceremony
The Arts & Business (A&B) Cymru Awards 2023 returned as an in-person event on Thursday 18 May, following a three-year hiatus as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The event, which for nearly three decades has celebrated excellence in partnership working, took place at The Coal Exchange in Cardiff Bay and was sponsored for the 12th consecutive year by global energy company Valero.
A&B Cymru CEO Rachel Jones said, In this economic climate, partnership working is more vital to our nation’s vibrant cultural life than ever before. We’ve been truly humbled by the way business and the arts have responded to the many unprecedented and unforeseen challenges of recent times – with resilience, creativity and determination. A&B Cymru is proud to play a part in fostering so many innovative projects that help to create a richer society. In this flagship ceremony, it is truly an honour to be able to celebrate the very best in cross-sector collaboration.
Winners & Finalists:
The Robert Maskrey Award for Arts Philanthropy, sponsored by Welsh Government
Winner: John Rath & John Underwood
Arts, Business & the Community, sponsored by Wales & West Utilities
Winner: Cardiff Community Housing Association & NoFit State Circus
Finalist: Cartrefi Conwy & Oriel Colwyn
Finalist: Newport Transport & Riverfront Theatre and Arts Centre
Arts, Business & Diversity, sponsored by Cardiff & Vale Health Charity
Winner: Bad Wolf & Hijinx Theatre, It’s My Shout Productions, Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama, The Other Room
Finalist: Cardiff & Vale Health Charity & Engage Cymru
Finalist: S4C & Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama
Arts, Business & Employees, sponsored by Wind 2
Winner: Cartrefi Cymru Cooperative & National Dance Company Wales
Finalist: Cardiff School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences & Hijinx Theatre
Finalist: Jones Bros Civil Engineering UK & Role Plays for Training
Arts, Business & the Environment, sponsored by The Waterloo Foundation & University of Wales Trinity Saint David
Winner: RWE / Clocaenog Wind Farm Fund & Urdd Gobaith Cymru
Finalist: Cardiff Harbour Authority & Theatr na nÓg
Finalist: Port of Milford Haven & The Aloud Charity
Arts, Business & Health, sponsored by Forest Holidays
Winner: Wales & West Utilities & Music in Hospitals & Care
Finalist: Cardiff & Vale Health Charity & Four in Four & Forget-Me-Not Chorus
Finalist: Lyan Packaging & Theatr Clwyd
Arts & Small Business, sponsored by Oil 4 Wales
Winner: Cazbah & The Aloud Charity
Finalist: Monumental Welsh Women & Mewn Cymeriad / In Character
Finalist: Severn Screen & Hijinx Theatre
Adviser of the Year Award, sponsored by Grant Stephens Family Law
Winner: Roman Kubiak, Hugh James & Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama
Finalist: Kate Fisher & Theatr na nÓg
Finalist: Sian Humpherson & Elen Llwyd Roberts / Dica
Finalist: Dan Lewis & Makers Guild in Wales
CGI Business of the Year
Winner: Bad Wolf
Finalist: Cardiff & Vale Health Charity
Finalist: Wales & West Utilities
Hodge Foundation Arts Awards
Winner 1: The Aloud Charity
Winner 2: NoFit State Circus
Winner 3: It’s My Shout Productions
The award winners were chosen by an independent panel of judges who have expertise in practical art forms, sponsorship and the aims of the private sector: Siân Doyle, Chief Executive of S4C; Karen Hodge, Trustee of the Hodge Foundation; Pianist, Composer and Producer, Ify Iwobi; Joint Chief Executive of Llenyddiaeth Cymru Literature Wales, Leusa Llewelyn; Sunil Patel, Race Equality Trainer & Consultant, and Stephen Thornton, Public Affairs Manager, Valero.
The Adviser of the Year Award was judged by three key supporters of A&B Cymru’s Professional Development Programmes: Deb Bowen Rees, Director of Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water and the recipient of the Award in 2021; Adrienne O’Sullivan, Founder & Director of Act Now Creative Training, and Grant Stephens, Managing Director of Grant Stephens Family Law.
The Award trophies, which were specially commissioned for the ceremony, were designed and made by stained glass artist Ingrid Walker. They were presented to the winners by well-known celebrities including actors Rakie Ayola and Mark Lewis Jones, TV Presenter and Designer Anna Ryder Richardson, Grammy Award-winning Soprano Rebecca Evans and Olympic athlete and broadcaster Colin Jackson. The evening’s spectacular entertainment was provided by Blacksmith Brass, Conner Allen and Simmy Singh.
