OUTSTANDING partnerships between culture and business have been celebrated at Scotland's leading awards ceremony for the two sectors.

The 2014 Arts & Business Scotland Awards were presented last night in Glasgow at the new-look Theatre Royal, recognising individuals and projects that made a big contribution last year.

John Wallace, retired principal of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, received the Leadership Award in recognition of his "outstanding" time in charge of the organisation, while five other organisations were honoured for their part.

This year's awards were split into five new categories, People, Digital Innovation, Entrepreneurial/Sustainability and International and Placemaking.

Mr Wallace said: "It means a lot to me and my inspired team at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland that we are being recognised as being world leaders in cultural education at every level.

"Institutional leadership is a collective effort and I am full of gratitude to my colleagues for making me responsible for their huge appetite for innovation."

TOTAL E&P UK Ltd and Royal Scottish National Orchestra were the winners of the People award, for creating the Nickum (Doric for 'young rascal') programme of early years musical activity across Aberdeen. A collaboration between Dundee computer games designers Quartic Llama and the National Theatre of Scotland to create an interactive piece of live theatre that was played out in the city street scooped the Digital Innovation award, while the Entrepreneurial/Sustainability prize, which recognises a partnership that developed business expertise or opportunities within the cultural scene, went to Sloans Bar and Restaurant and Noise Opera. The International Award, went to Nomad Exhibitions and the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland for their exhibition A Tale of Two Cities, showcasing the development of the cities of Nanjing and Edinburgh.

Inksters and Scottish Ensemble along with Shell UK Limited and Theatre Modo were joint winners of the Placemaking award, for taking a programme of innovative music to Shetland and the community-based Shell Fireworks Parade 2013.

Arts & Business Scotland Chief Executive, David Watt said: "The winners of this year's Arts & Business Scotland Awards are testament to the vibrant and thriving arts sector we have in Scotland and while we celebrate this we must not forget the huge contribution that is made by business sponsorship which genuinely is the lifeblood of these collaborations."