Outstanding fundraisers in the cultural and heritage sectors will be recognised for the first time this year at the Arts & Business Scotland Awards. Nominations have opened for the 30th Anniversary Awards which now include a new Fundraising Excellence category.

Arts & Business Scotland’s Chief Executive David Watt said: “This is an exciting year for Arts & Business Scotland as we celebrate our 30th Annual Awards recognising excellence in cross sector collaborations.

“Not only are we searching for the most innovative and creative partnerships from the business and cultural sectors but this year we are seeking to recognise a fundraiser or team of fundraisers which has outperformed others in the cultural and heritage sectors.”

The Fundraising Excellence Award recognises an individual or team which has made a significant contribution to the fundraising efforts of an arts, cultural or heritage organisation in Scotland. These can be fundraising professionals, volunteers or board members, who have either run a specific fundraising initiative which has garnered significant support for a particular organisation or have shown consistent excellence and best practice through their actions, leadership and intellect.                                               

This year’s partnership categories include people, placemaking, innovation, enterprise and international. A&BS is also inviting nominations for Enterprising Museum of the Year and its Business Creativity Award, which was introduced for the first time in 2015 and awarded to Caledonian MacBrayne.

As well as rewarding outstanding and creative partnerships between arts organisations and businesses the Awards, which will take place in Glasgow in March 2017, recognise key individuals and projects which have made a significant contribution to the arts in the previous year.

Nominations will close at midnight on 30th September and the shortlist will be announced in November.