Oxford Inspires shortlisted for Arts & Business Award

Monday 20 March, 2006

Oxford Inspires, the cultural development agency for Oxfordshire, has been shortlisted in The Arts & Business South East Awards for an imaginative community art project.

The local partnership between Oxford Inspires and BMW Group Plant Oxford has made it through to the shortlist for the SEEDA Arts & Business Community Award. The partnership enabled Oxford Inspires and BMW Group Plant Oxford to develop a series of community workshops last December, leading up to a major public performance in Oxford's historic centre, which was the finale to Evolving City, a year-long programme of cultural events in the city.

The Arts & Business collaboration involved hundreds of people of all ages from a variety of neighbourhoods, schools and Plant Oxford who created lanterns and took part in the procession and event, If on a Winter’s Night..., which was watched by almost 3000 people. The workshops were developed with local artists and Fusion, Oxford's community arts agency.

Oxford Inspires' Director of Development Kathelene Weiss said: "Working with Arts & Business New Partners has allowed us to develop our relationship with BMW Group Plant Oxford, to the benefit of local communities. The success of the workshops and the excitement and pleasure generated by Evolving City's closing event exceeded our expectations."

Jane Chambers, Regional Director, Arts & Business South East said: "The shortlists are superb examples of how business and the arts can work together in so many different ways. We hope that all of these partnerships can provide an enormous return on investment and many other mutual benefits for employees and communities."

The winners will be announced on 14 June 2006.

For more information about Oxford Inspires and our business links, please contact Kathelene Weiss on 01865 816394 or kathelene.weiss@oxfordinspires.org. For more information on Arts & Business, please visit www.AandB.org.uk.

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