with the Arts and Business award by Casualty actor Luke Bailey
A Caerphilly-based social landlord has won a coveted Arts and Business Cymru award.
United Welsh Housing Association scooped the Arts, Business and Community award for partnering with NoFit State Circus on two community projects.
Silver Circus, a project with charity AgeCymru, is a scheme engaging older tenants with health and access issues in weekly classes to develop basic circus skills.
The business also supports Block, NoFit State’s new professional outdoor touring project which will visit four communities: Tredegar, Aberbargoed, Bryn Aber and Caerphilly’s Lansbury Park estate. The tour and its associated workshops will engage more than 2,000 people.
United Welsh said working with world-class artists from NoFit State Circus provides tenants with access to the highest quality arts wherever they live.
Presented by former HTV Wales broadcasters Nicola Heywood Thomas and Arfon Haines Davies, the annual awards celebrated the achievements of 11 businesses, organisations and individuals who have shown dedication to supporting the arts over the past year.
Rachel Jones, chief executive of Arts and Business Cymru, said: “The calibre of entries for the 2016 awards has been first-class, and I’m thrilled that we’ve been able to build upon the success of last year’s event.
“I’d like to say a heartfelt thank you to all of the finalists and winners for their commitment in developing relationships between businesses and arts organisations. Their dedication not only brings enjoyment to the workplace, but a real sense of unity within communities who are now experiencing artistic opportunities that may not have otherwise been available.
“The partnerships recognised in these awards prove that investing in the arts brings not only commercial benefits, but also allows companies to have a sustained and beneficial impact beyond the workplace.
“We’re very fortunate to receive consistent support from our sponsors and partners, and I am delighted that this year we have been able to put on another ceremony showcasing the important work going on throughout Wales.”
United Welsh HOUSING ASSOCIATION, and the clue is in the title, know all about running a Circus. They spend almost as much public money on none housing areas as they do on what they were created to do, provide social housing for local people