Arts and business winners revealed

01/12/2007

One Railway and the Norfolk & Norwich Festival were among the winners of the first Arts & Business East Awards.

The awards, which were held at the Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds on Wednesday night, honour the best partnerships between commerce and culture from around the region.

One Railway and the Norfolk & Norwich Festival won the Essex & Suffolk Water Arts & Business East Sustainability Award.

Norfolk & Norwich Festival director Jonathan Holloway said: “The business support and partnerships we've built have been instrumental in enabling us to treble our audiences and our turnover in the past three years.”

In their commendation, the awards judges said: “This is the most enduring and remarkable business and arts partnership in this region and has developed and grown over a staggering fifteen year period.

“What is more remarkable is that 'one's' sponsorship of the Norfolk & Norwich festival has developed at a time of unprecedented change for the railway franchise itself. The judges admired the enduring nature of a truly regional partnership that has exceeded the business objectives of both parties.”

Jonathan Denby, head of corporate affairs at 'one' railway said: “We're delighted that our successful and well established partnership with the Norfolk and Norwich Festival has received this Sustainability Award. By working together on a long term basis, we can play our part in helping to make Norfolk and Norwich an even better place to live and work. With an evolving festival attracting wider audiences, bringing more people to Norwich, everyone gains; audiences, the local community, the local economy, the festival and 'one' railway.”

During a ceremony hosted by BBC Look East's Stewart White, five partnerships and one individual were presented with individual glass award pieces created by Essex-based artist Ewa Wawrzyniak.

Speakers included Lord Stevenson, Chair of Aldeburgh Music; Colin Tweedy, chief executive of Arts & Business; and Mr Holloway.

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