HRH The Prince of Wales presented his five Medals for Arts Philanthropy this week at a ceremony hosted by Arts & Business, an organisation that helps companies and individuals to support the cultural sector.

The medal celebrates individuals who support the arts and recognises the contribution of the most inspiring cultural philanthropists in the UK.

This year’s honourees are:

• Michael and Dorothy Hintze. More than a hundred institutions around the country have enjoyed Hintze’s generosity, from the Prince’s Foundation to the National Gallery, where they recently helped to save Titian’s Diana and Actaeon for the nation with a large donation.
• Dr Keith Howard. Howard received the honour in recognition of his sustained and substantial support for Opera North, the award-winning, Leeds-based opera company that is one of the leading arts companies in Europe.
• Donald MacDonald CBE and Louise MacDonald. The MacDonalds’ strongest attachment is with the internationally recognised Scottish Chamber Orchestra, of which Donald has been chairman since 1985. In the last ten years they have provided substantial financial support.
• Mary Weston CBE.  Weston has played an important role in helping to shape how the W. Garfield Weston Foundation, founded by her late husband Garfield (Garry) Weston, aids the development and encouragement of a thriving arts and cultural sector in the UK.
• Sir John Zochonis.  Zochonis has given away millions of pounds to regional, national and international causes. He has supported the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester for more than 30 years.

Dr Howard said, "Life without the Arts would be arid indeed, and I am privileged to be in a position whereby I can influence the development of community awareness and interest in the Arts, particularly among the young.”

The five honourees were chosen by The Prince of Wales’ Group, which drew up a shortlist of twenty philanthropists from whom the honourees  were chosen by a judging panel of artists.

The medal was first presented in 2008.