Cambridge University Press pick up international award

The Press and Britten Sinfonia orchestra were the winners of the International category in the Arts and Business Prize, sponsored by the British Council.

The award celebrates global partnerships that help organisations reach new audiences and make a global impact.

Cambridge University Press has been associated with Britten Sinfonia since 2002, with both organisations operating globally from their Cambridge bases.

Competition judges looked at five concerts staged by Britten Sinfonia and sponsored by Cambridge University Press in South America during 2007.

The concerts featured internationally renowned pianist Joanna MacGregor. During the tour the Press helped to support education projects run by Britten Sinfonia in local schools.

The Press and Britten Sinfonia beat off stiff competition from four other partnerships - including Rolls Royce and the London Symphony Orchestra - to land the prize.

All of the shortlisted partnerships were drawn up by an independent panel of judges from both the cultural and commercial world with the winners announced at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London earlier this week.

Stephen Bourne, Chief Executive of Cambridge University Press said: “I am delighted that our collaboration with Britten Sinfonia has been recognised in this way. Our partnership has been beneficial for both of us and I look forward to working with them in the future to further develop our involvement in their tours and educational activities.”

David Butcher, Britten Sinfonia’s Chief Executive, said: “It was a great opportunity for both of us, and for the Press it was much more than entertaining clients, as they also supported educational projects that we ran in local schools. Their involvement also helped us to do more things on our website, like daily blogs that were translated into Portuguese and Spanish so that local people could follow what we were doing on tour.”