CN&CO announced as BASA Awards finalist

CN&CO is delighted to have been nominated as a finalist in the 20th annual BASA Awards.

“As a young business, CN&CO aims to build its own legacy as an active and innovative supporter of the arts in general, specifically where our involvement has a direct benefit to the artists themselves,” says chief señor Carel Nolte.

The 2017 awards are judged on work done during the 2016 calendar year, when CN&CO sponsored (in the traditional sense of the word) a couple of events, notably at the Suidoosterfees in Cape Town and the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown.

“But our involvement goes way deeper than sponsorship,” says Carel. “We see our involvement in business and the arts as equally important and will always look for an arts angle in everything we do.”

For example, the partnership between CN&CO and Ann Roberts, a.k.a. Ann of Many Hats, transcends definition in terms of strategic objectives, budgets, ROI, etc.

“At its core, this is a relationship between business and the arts that seeks out opportunities on an ongoing basis, where each party can contribute to and derive benefit from the other,” says Carel. “Ann is a well-connected generalist in the catch-all field of ‘the arts’. She has worked in many arts-related sectors, including fine art, music, television, publishing and the performing arts. CN&CO, on the other hand, is well connected in the business world, particularly in the financial services sector.

“The partnership between these entities brings two significant networks together for mutual benefit of both business and the arts.”

Ann was our guest speaker at ConFab in February 2017.

“It’s amazing to see arts partnerships with business and government becoming more prominent,” says Carel. “I went to the relaunch of the Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra last night where Joburg mayor Herman Mashaba highlighted the importance of the arts in society. ‘Every world-class city should have a thriving arts community, and an orchestra should be part of that,’ he said. And we agree!”

The City of Johannesburg has extended a R31 million grant to the orchestra to bring itself to its former glory, proving that it is committed to uplifting the arts in the city. The mayor is truly putting his money where his mouth is.

Congrats to the finalists!

Big congratulations to the other #20thBASAAwards finalists, especially to our client Rand Merchant Bank, who received five nominations in total – including two for the work it does with Mzansi Youth Choir.

The winners will be announced at what promises to be a fantastic event at Nirox Sculpture Park on Sunday, 17 September.

CN&CO’s Corporate Portraits offering started at the very end of 2015. During 2016 the offering became extremely popular among corporates as a way to build relationships with staff and clients. Thirty-seven local artists were commissioned to do small portraits (200mm x 200mm) of CN&CO clients’ staff/partners/clients, etc. on demand. Some are full-time artists while others are part-time artists focusing on more traditional careers. Others still are a combination of both – full-time artists with full-time “other” jobs, yet making it all work. By the end of 2016, more than 600 portraits had been generated. The proceeds went to the artists themselves. The portraits were distributed across South Africa, as well into the rest of Africa and Europe, which means the artists benefit additionally through exposure in these regions.