At the twenty-second iteration of the annual awards ceremonies held at Beechwood Gardens in Hyde Park, Johannesburg, on 13 October, BMW South Africa and Southern Guild gallery won both the Innovation and Strategic Projects categories. The two awards, out of a total of 11, were presented to BMW SA and Southern Guild for their unique methods of pairing luxury motoring with the best of South African design during 2018. The Innovation award recognizes innovative and progressive partnership in all mediums within the creative fields while the Strategic Project award celebrates the best use of a project that forms an integral part of the sponsor’s business strategy.
“BMW is thrilled to join its partner Southern Guild as a two-time winner in the BASA Awards for 2019. BASA has long championed companies that work not only in the economy of our country but also the heart and soul of the arts. Our long-standing partnership with Southern Guild is a source of pride for all of us at BMW, and we are excited to be part of the awards,” Thilosh Moodally, General Manager: BMW Customer, Brand & Channel Development, BMW Group South Africa.
Resulting in just over R1 million in commissions and work that directly benefited the South African design community, the partnership between BMW and Southern Guild focused on a series of events whereby both companies present specific BMW vehicles with each exhibition held at the Cape Town gallery, located in the Silo District of the V&A Waterfront. The partnership saw 14 activations take place in 2018 alone where there was commissioned artworks and special installations inside the gallery and even included bespoke VIP experiences and film productions.
“At a time when retail markets are under immense pressure globally, BMW’s support of Southern Guild demonstrates a nimble understanding of the role that design can play in our economy. With its focus on excellence, innovation and high-performance design, BMW stimulated the production of new work and had a tangible impact on the local industry. BMW has demonstrated a long-term commitment to modern and contemporary art internationally. The partnership with Southern Guild enabled it to cement that reputation for South African audiences, who have not experienced the cultural programmes BMW sponsors in Europe, the US and elsewhere. In turn, Southern Guild’s global reputation was enhanced by the association with BMW, as one of the world’s premium automotive manufacturers.” Trevyn McGowan, co-founder, Southern Guild.
