BOMBAY SAPPHIRE® Gin Announces Winner Of The 6th Annual BOMBAY SAPPHIRE Artisan Series

CORAL GABLES, Fla., Dec. 5, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- This weekend, during Scope Miami Beach, BOMBAY SAPPHIRE gin, along with Russell and Danny Simmons' Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation, announced New Orleans' Aron Belka as the Grand Finale Winner of the 6^th Annual BOMBAY SAPPHIRE Artisan Series. Choosing the victor of the annual nationwide search for the next big names in visual arts took careful consideration from a jury panel including Rush Philanthropic co-founder Danny Simmons, Vice President of SCOPE Art Show Daria Brit Greene, and Afropunk Community Affairs Director Manushka Magloire. The winning artist, Aron Belka will collaborate with actress, social activist, and Creative Mentor Rosario Dawson on a public mural installation in Spring 2016.

An illustrious mix of celebrities, musicians, socialites, fashion designers and art influencers attended the exclusive finale event at the Beach Tent at Nautilus, a SIXTY Hotel, on Friday, December 4. The guest list included Rosario Dawson, Solange Knowles and celebrity stylist Ty Hunter; Recording Artists: Miguel and Teyana Taylor; supermodels: Shaun Ross, Garrett Neff, and Lady Victoria Hervey; BK The Artist; TK Wonder and Cipriana Quann (Urban Bush Babes), DJ Cassidy, and Patrick Janelle (Instagram Star and Founder of The Liquor Cabinet).  Attendees sipped artfully crafted BOMBAY SAPPHIRE cocktails while dancing to music spun by DJ Kitty Cash.

Now in its sixth year, the BOMBAY SAPPHIRE Artisan Series, an annual collaboration with Russell and Danny Simmons' Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation, casts its net nationwide in search of the most talented emerging visual artists. Thousands of artists were invited to enter the 2015 Artisan Series by creating a piece of inspired, original art.  The work of ten artists was then selected from local gallery events across the United States including New York City, Chicago, New Orleans, Detroit, Washington D.C., Atlanta, San Francisco, Miami, Houston and Los Angeles. Two additional finalists were determined online by popular votes.

Along with Grand Finale Winner Aron Belka, two other artists were selected among the 12 finalists who'd made their way to the exclusive Finale bash: Shawn Warren from Chicago and People's Choice Becky Rosa from Miami. For the second year in a row, all three of the top artists will have the unique opportunity to create a largescale mural in each of their hometowns next spring, as part of the BOMBAY SAPPHIRE Mural Arts Project. The Grand Prize winner will also receive a solo exhibit at SCOPE NYC in March 2016.

Prior to announcing the top three winning artists, Artisan Series program curator Andre Guichard, Creative Mentor Rosario Dawson, and Russell Simmons toasted the program's incredible achievements.  Russell Simmons addressed the finalists: "Over the last six years, we've succeeded in discovering some truly remarkable talent in partnership with BOMBAY SAPPHIRE gin, and I'm very proud of that. This year, for the very first time, we're honored to have the opportunity to introduce my friend, actress and social activist Rosario Dawson to our program, who will serve as a Creative Mentor for the program. We continue to discover the most talented generations of visual artists, and we are very excited to continue working with our partners BOMBAY SAPPHIRE to discover and shine a light on their creativity and imagination. It's been a successful six years, and we're just getting started!"

Of his Grand Finale win, Belka said, "I'm still in shock considering the thousands of worthy entries received, and how talented they all are. Having my work viewed at an international festival as influential as SCOPE Miami is a dream that every artist has.  I can't wait to bring my vision to life at my solo exhibit at Scope NYC, and my future collaboration with Rosario Dawson."

As part of her longtime advocacy for positive social change, Rosario Dawson recently launched Studio 189, an online platform headquartered in Ghana, dedicated to promoting and fostering African culture and African-inspired content through a blend of creative projects and e-commerce.  The primary focus of Studio 189 is empowerment, education and employment among artisans and creatives.  Rosario has teamed with the BOMBAY SAPPHIRE Artisan Series program as an extension of the actress' commitment to the global artistic community.

As the first-ever Creative Mentor for the program, Rosario Dawson says, "I strive to collaborate with programs that are personally meaningful to me and that will make a significant impact on the next generation of artists. I'm fortunate to have opportunities to further my commitment, and help support emerging creatives around the world like Aron Belka. I'm so excited about working with Aron and BOMBAY SAPPHIRE to bring his vision to life on a public mural next spring."

BOMBAY SAPPHIRE VP, Brand Managing Director Ned Duggan added, "BOMBAY SAPPHIRE has a rich history within the arts and the creative community ever since its launch nearly 30 years ago.  Over the years, BOMBAY SAPPHIRE has continued to reinforce its commitment to the arts and the artistic community by supporting emerging artists with competitions like the Artisan Series.  The spirit of Bombay Sapphire -- self-expression, creativity and imagination -- lives in these artists and their work.  We're proud to be associated with such incredible talent as they continue to grow and inspire one another year after year."

The partnership between BOMBAY SAPPHIRE and Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation has evolved from the BOMBAY SAPPHIRE brand's longstanding commitment to fostering creativity and supporting artists in a variety of different mediums, including design, film and visual arts. With ongoing presence of BOMBAY SAPPHIRE at Scope Art Fair, and Rush's mission of providing exhibition opportunities for underrepresented artists, the annual collaboration continues to introduce the world to innovative and rising talent.     

About BOMBAY SAPPHIRE®  
BOMBAY SAPPHIRE® gin is the fastest growing premium gin in the world and world's number one premium Gin by value.  BOMBAY SAPPHIRE® is created with a unique combination of ten hand-selected botanicals, sourced from around the globe. The brand's global essence and signature vapour infusion process impart a refined and perfectly balanced taste, versatile enough for both classic cocktails and exotic recipes. Infused with Imagination, BOMBAY SAPPHIRE® is a symbol of the exploration of worldly and sophisticated lifestyles. For more information, please explore www.bombaysapphire.com.

The BOMBAY SAPPHIRE® brand is part of the portfolio of Bacardi Limited, headquartered in Hamilton, Bermuda. Bacardi Limited refers to the Bacardi group of companies, including Bacardi International Limited.

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About BOMBAY SAPPHIRE ARTISAN SERIES   
The BOMBAY SAPPHIRE ARTISAN SERIES fosters the talents of emerging artists through a nationwide search for the best up-and-coming names in visual arts.  Each year, a handful of finalists are selected from thousands of online submissions and local gallery events to showcase their works in front of the world's top art critics and buyers at the SCOPE MIAMI BEACH Art Show.

Since its 2010 inception, the Series has received more than 20,000 submissions from inspired artists across the country and has precipitated the sale of artwork totaling more than $260,000 from the finalists' pool. In 2012, Chicago finalist Hebru Brantley sold his finale piece to Jay Z for $20,000 in Miami.  Brantley went on to paint Lil Wayne's skate park and was commissioned by Swizz Beatz in 2013 to create a custom piece. Most recently, 2014 National Winner Kristine Mays' incredible work was purchased by Star Wars film director George Lucas and his wife Mellody Hobson at the Artisan Series solo exhibit at SCOPE NYC – a testament to the exceptional caliber of talent receiving exposure from this annual multicultural arts competition.

About Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation  
Founded in 1995 by brothers Russell, Danny and Joseph "Rev. Run" Simmons, Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation, a 501c3 organization, is dedicated to providing inner-city youth with significant exposure and access to the arts, and to offering exhibition opportunities for emerging and underrepresented artists. Over the past 20 years, Rush has developed a broad base of friends, collaborators and supporters dedicated to supporting its mission. In addition to the 3,000 students served annually in its education programs, each year Rush exhibits the work of over 100 emerging and community-based artists in its galleries, and welcomes over 10,000 gallery visitors to its spaces in Chelsea, Manhattan (Rush Arts Gallery) and Clinton Hill, Brooklyn (Corridor Gallery). For more information, visit www.rushphilanthropic.org.

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