The respected Durban firm, Byrne Pipe Organ Builders cc., is among this year's winners of the prestigious Business Day/Basa (Business & Arts South Africa) awards. The company receives its award for The Durban City Hall Organ restoration and commission of a South African organ concerto.

The awards are the final result of months of evaluation by a panel of judges from various sectors of the business and arts arenas and were developed to recognise and encourage excellence and innovation in the field of business support for the arts. The awards are open to all companies sponsoring arts events, projects or organisations in South Africa and to all companies sponsoring arts events overseas.

BEST USE OF A COMMISSION OF NEW ART: Metro Rail Pretoria for ARTWALL.

FIRST TIME SPONSORS (two awards this year): Byrne Pipe Organ Builders cc. and Teba Bank for Teba Bank Art Competition.

INCREASING ACCESS TO THE ARTS: Metrorail Pretoria for Artwall

INTERNATIONAL SPONSORSHIP: Standard Bank of South Africa Limited for The Chagall Exhibition The Light of Origins.

LONG TERM DEVELOPMENT: Cape Metropolitan Council for Sithengi

SINGLE PROJECT: First National Bank of Southern Africa Limited for The FNB Vita Craft Now Exhibition Programme

SPONSORSHIP BY A SMALL BUSINESS: Equity Africa Fund Management (Pty.) Ltd. for The Buskaid Soweto String Project

SPONSORSHIP IN KIND: Independent Newspapers Cape for The Cape Town One City Festival

STRATEGIC SPONSORSHIP: Cape Metropolitan Council for Sithengi

YOUTH SPONSORSHIP: Mobile Telephone Networks ( MTN ) for The South African Music Education Trust ( SAMET ) - Western Cape Music Literacy Project

The Chairman's Award for sustained excellence in sponsorship of the arts Nedbank for The Nedbank Arts and Culture Affinity Programme.

The 2000 awards relate to sponsorships made during the calendar year January 1 to December 31, 2000; and include long-term or ongoing sponsorships current during that period. There are ten business awards in ten categories, each of equal value. In each case, a specially commissioned work of art will be given to the winning sponsor.

Basa was founded in 1997 as a joint initiative between government and the business sector, to ensure the future development of the arts industry in South Africa. Established as a Section 21 company, with President Thabo Mbeki as its patron, Basa is accountable to both government and its business members. More details from (011) 784-9994/5, fax (011) 784-9996 or email: basa@artslink.co.za