DALLAS – October 16, 2006 – North Texas Business for Culture and the Arts (NTBCA) revealed the winners of its 2006 Obelisk Awards Friday night at a gala at the Pavilion at the Belo Mansion. The event was co-sponsored by Citigroup and PricewaterhouseCoopers. The awards honor businesses in North Texas whose support had significant impact on the region’s arts and cultural environment in the previous year. The winners in each of the eight categories were:
New Initiatives – Small Company Category Carter Public Relations (nominated by Shakespeare Dallas) – Carter Public Relations became involved with Shakespeare Dallas in 2004, providing pro bono public relations and marketing services. Through its relationship with Carter PR, Shakespeare Dallas has received a great deal of positive publicity, seen dramatic fundraising success, and built new partnerships in the community.
New Initiatives – Midsize Company Category Imaginuity Interactive (nominated by Fair Park) – Five percent of the Web design work Imaginuity creates annually is done on a pro bono basis for selected arts organizations. Other arts groups receive greatly reduced rates. In addition, company executives are expected to serve as active members on arts organization boards. Organizations with sites designed by Imaginuity to date include Big Thought, Dallas Children’s Theater, Fair Park, and the Nasher Sculpture Center.
New Initiatives – Large Company CategoryFort Worth Star-Telegram (nominated by the Fort Worth Opera and the Fort Worth Symphony) – The Star-Telegram has long been a supporter of the Fort Worth Opera and the Fort Worth Symphony, as well as many other arts organizations in Tarrant County. The newspaper company recently underwrote the creation of a new opera for the Fort Worth Opera. In addition to $60,000 in cash underwriting, the Star-Telegram has donated $30,000 in advertising space to promote the new production.
The other finalist in this category was American National Bank of Texas.
Arts Partnership – Small Company Category M/C/C (nominated by Big Thought) – M/C/C has provided marketing communications products and services to Big Thought since 2002. The firm helped then-Young Audiences of North Texas research and develop its new name. In addition, M/C/C went on to provide Big Thought with a new logo and strategic guidance in launching the new brand. The relationship continues with efforts designed to generate support for the nonprofit’s arts-in-education initiatives. Other finalists in this category included Plano Profile/Wishbone Graphics, Inc.; Torres Creative and WRR 101.1 FM.
Arts Partnership – Midsize Company Category Elliott’s Hardware (nominated by the Dallas Wind Symphony) – Elliott’s Hardware’s support of the Dallas Wind Symphony (DWS) began in 1999. For three weeks, Elliott’s was the exclusive vendor for the Wind Symphony’s newly released compact disc. Since then, Elliott’s relationship with DWS has expanded to include sponsorship of the Wind Symphony’s annual Holiday concerts, its 4th of July concerts, and its Starlight Band concerts at the Fair Park Bandshell.
Arts Partnership – Large Company CategoryBNSF Railway Company (nominated by the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History) – BNSF Railway Company (BNSF), through the BNSF Foundation, has supported the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History for more than 20 years. The Foundation has provided $400,000 in grants to the Museum for causes such as exhibition underwriting, support of capital projects, and outreach activities. In addition, a senior executive of BNSF has been a Museum trustee for eight of the past 14 years.
Other finalists in this category included Chase, Interceramic Inc., John Eagle Dealerships and Lennox International Inc.
Arts Education Citigroup (nominated by Big Thought) – Through its Citigroup Foundation, the corporation has been a key supporter of ArtsPartners, a collaboration between DISD, the City of Dallas Office of Cultural Affairs, and more than 60 local arts and cultural organizations. (Big Thought is the initiative’s managing partner.) The Citigroup Foundation has given a total of $84,000 to the program since 2001, financial support that has been instrumental in ArtsPartners’ success.
The other finalist in this category was Centex Corporation.
Leadership Clifford K. Miercort, The North American Coal Corporation (retired) (nominated by Big Thought) – Cliff Miercort is a staunch believer in the power of the arts. After establishing the home office of the North American Coal Corporation in Dallas, he commissioned original art for all of the office’s public places. He is also passionately concerned about today’s youth. These two interests come together in Big Thought, where Cliff has served on the board of directors for six years. He has been involved with programs, as treasurer, and as vice president of development – tireless in his efforts and enthusiasm for arts programs in North Texas schools.
The other finalists in this category were Roger Enrico, DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc. and John Semyan, TNS Partners, Inc.
The 2006 Obelisk Award winners were selected by a panel of jurors that included Ted Anderson, Kilgore & Kilgore; Zenetta Drew, Dallas Black Dance Theatre; Wendy Lopez, LopezGarcia Group; Dr. Robert Milnes, University of North Texas; and Terri Ricketts, McKinney Chamber of Commerce. Sherry Tucker David, Tucker-David Foundation, was the jury panel chair. The event’s Advisory Council members were Sheryl K. Sunderman, Accenture; Orrin L. Harrison, III, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld; Bella D. Goren, American Airlines; John T. Sughrue, Brook Partners, Inc.; Kay St. John, Capital One; Anne Motsenbocker, Chase; Ronald J. Gard, Citigroup; Charles L. Gummer, Comerica Bank – Texas; Donna E. Epps, Deloitte; Lora Thornton, EDS; Timothy Hale, Fossil; Craig Hall, Hall Financial Group; Noel M.B. Hensley, Haynes and Boone; Terry Steele, IBM; T. Michael Wilson, Jackson Walker; John R. Eagle, John Eagle Dealerships; Michael Lunceford, Mary Kay; Noel E. Lee, Mercer Human Resource Consulting; Raymond D. Nasher, Nasher Company; Dean P. Weaver, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP; Jody Grant, Texas Capital Bank; Sherry Tucker David, Tucker-David Foundation; David Russell, Verizon; Thomas S. Leatherbury, Vinson & Elkins; and Karen Lukin, Whole Foods Market.
Silver Table Sponsors included Beck, Carter Public Relations, Clifford K. Miercort, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Gardere, Imaginuity Interactive, Texas Instruments and TNS Partners, Inc.
Additional support was provided by AJ Bart, Bread ‘n’ Butter, Clampitt Paper, Culinaire, Dallas Wind Symphony, Downtown Business News, Fossil, Mercer Human Resource Consulting, MS Graphics, Olmsted-Kirk Paper Company, Roses & More Florist and The Real Estate Council. Terry Martin of WaterTower Theatre served as the evening’s emcee.
Each Obelisk sculpture was individually crafted by Dallas sculptor David Hickman. Hickman has been making the sculptures since 1995. He uses bois d’arc wood, bronze and Texas Cordova limestone.
About NTBCA North Texas Business for Culture and the Arts (NTBCA) is a nonprofit organization founded in 1988 by local businesses committed to expanding business support for and involvement in arts and cultural organizations. Through programs such as On My Own Time, Leadership Arts and the Obelisk Awards, NTBCA leverages corporate support of the arts, links corporate and arts communities via information and events, improves arts management effectiveness and efficiency and provides a critical link between business, arts, government and civic agencies. Member companies include such industry leaders as AMR/American Airlines, Centex Corporation, Chase, Deloitte, EDS, ExxonMobil Corporation, Harwood International, IBM, JCPenney, Mercer Human Resource Consulting, Texas Instruments, TXU and Verizon. For more information and a complete list of members, call 972-991-8300 or visit the NTBCA Web site at www.ntbca.org.
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