The 33rd annual Business to Arts Awards took place at the National Concert Hall, celebrating the outstanding achievements of partnerships between businesses and arts organisations across Ireland.
More than 500 business and arts leaders attended the 2025 ceremony, which recognised projects that set new standards for how corporate engagement can shape cultural infrastructure and honour shared histories and futures.
Among the winners was Drogheda Port Company and artist Emily McCormack, who received the Jim McNaughton/TileStyle Perpetual Trophy for Best Commissioning Practice for their 2025 commission, “Brig Manley.”
Part of the port’s two-decade-long art programme, the project tells the story of the 1871 shipwreck through McCormack’s painting and the music of SJ McArdle. The work was unveiled at Mornington Beach, the site of the tragedy, and accompanied by a live performance of the song Brig Manley.
The commission has strengthened community ties to Drogheda’s maritime heritage, demonstrating how art can make history both tangible and emotionally resonant. It encourages intergenerational storytelling and local pride, with judges praising the project’s powerful combination of heritage and storytelling — a reflection of the port’s long-standing collaboration with local artists.
Paul Fleming, CEO of Drogheda Port Company, said:
“We are delighted to have been recognised for Drogheda Port Company’s long-standing support of the arts and local artists in our community. This year, we are especially proud of the powerful piece created by Emily, whose deeply immersive approach brought something truly special to the commission.”
Louise O’Reilly, Chief Executive of Business to Arts, added:
“What we celebrate tonight is far more than sponsorship — it is shared vision and shared value. The partnerships recognised at the Business to Arts Awards 2025 show how creativity, when backed by business leadership, becomes a catalyst for inclusion, sustainability, and long-term social impact.”
The winning partnership between Drogheda Port Company and Emily McCormack exemplifies how business and the arts can collaborate with purpose, creating projects that connect communities, preserve heritage, and inspire pride of place.
