National City, Cameron Mitchell Catering Company and Grip Technology Win 2008 Business Arts Partnership Awards

The Greater Columbus Arts Council awarded three businesses with a 2008 Business Arts Partnership Award for their exemplary support of the arts as part of GCAC's annual meeting at COSI Columbus.

Columbus Mayor Michael B. Coleman announced this year's winners at the March 27 event. National City, nominated by CAPA, CATCO and the Phoenix Theatre Circle for Children, received the award in the large business category. Cameron Mitchell Catering Company, nominated by BalletMet Columbus, received the award in the medium business category. Grip Technology, nominated by the Columbus Museum of Art and the Westerville Symphony, received the award in the small business category.

Jerry Jurgensen, CEO of Nationwide, was the keynote speaker of this year's event. GCAC also celebrated the 25th anniversary of the awards with a special video presentation produced by the Emmy Award-winning team behind WOSU Public Media's ArtZine, which will soon be available through Time Warner Cable’s Local on Demand.

The Business Arts Partnership Awards recognize the business community's support of the arts and its impact on greater Columbus' cultural and arts organizations. Thirty businesses were nominated by local arts and nonprofit organizations for this year's Business Arts Partnership Awards.

"We are proud to celebrate the millions of dollars and millions of hours given by our nominated business partners over the past 25 years," said Bryan W. Knicely, GCAC President. "Business support for the arts in our community remains so strong, and we look forward to the next 25 years of partnerships."

Each business chosen for a Business Arts Partnership Award received an original work of art by a local artist. National City received Bruce Robinson's Jacob's Ladder. Cameron Mitchell Catering Company received Curtis Goldstein's On the Corner of Parsons and Town Streets. Grip Technology received Dawson Kellog's liquid black.

GCAC also presented its Artistic Excellence Award—a $10,000 prize given annually to an arts organization that has demonstrated innovation, risk and artistic excellence in a performance, exhibition or program—to Anatomical Scenario Movement Theater for Anna and the Annadroids: Clone Zone.

The other 2008 Artistic Excellence nominees were:

• BalletMet Columbus for 30x30
• Columbus Association for the Performing Arts, Opera Columbus and Phoenix Theatre Circle for Children for their collaboration on The Secret Garden
• Ohioana Library Association for Ohioana Book Festival - A Good Roots Celebration
• The Wexner Center for the Arts for State Fare

GCAC thanks the Business Arts Partnership Awards media and anniversary sponsors—Time Warner Cable, NBC 4 and DeeDee Glimcher—for their support of this year's event.