Three Rivers District Council shortlisted for Hearts for the Arts Awards 2020
The shortlist has been announced for the National Campaign for the Arts' (NCA) Hearts For The Arts Awards 2020.
The shortlist has been announced for the National Campaign for the Arts' (NCA) Hearts For The Arts Awards 2020. The awards celebrate the unsung heroes of Local Authorities who are championing the arts, often within a climate of severe financial challenges.
Three Rivers District Council has been nominated for Best Arts Project - Arts, Health and Wellbeing; for their project Making It.
Nominations were received from across the UK across the five award categories:
- Best Arts Initiative;
- Best Arts Project - Community Cohesion;
- Best Arts Project - Arts, Health and Wellbeing;
- Best Arts Champion - Local Authority or Cultural Trust Worker;
- Best Arts Champion – Councillor.
The shortlist was judged by representatives from some of this year’s partners in the awards: Culture Counts; Wales Council for Voluntary Action; Local Government Association; National Campaign for the Arts; and Voluntary Arts Wales.
Cllr Chris Lloyd, Lead Member for Leisure said: “We are delighted to have been shortlisted for this award, which recognises what the Council are doing to help improve people’s health and wellbeing through art. It is great to see people experience the benefits of creativity for wellbeing and as a smaller district council, we’re really proud to be empowering people in this way. We look forward to continuing with Making It this year and celebrating it as part of the Hertfordshire Year of Culture 2020.”
Discussing Three Rivers’ nomination our partners said about Making It: “‘Very impressive set of external reference points, such as evaluation framework, and although only a short programme so far, clearly has potential to develop further.”
“Amazing progress, initiative, and self-reflection – these will all help with sustainability – thoroughly impressed! The Council is clearly looking toward the future to accommodate the needs of people and the challenge the participants. I found your programme to have a careful balance of physical and mental health awareness. Fantastic work!”
The winners of the Hearts For The Arts Awards 2020 will be announced on Valentine’s Day, 14 February. The winners will be selected from the shortlist by a panel of key arts industry experts and practitioners, including:
- Susie Dent: lexicographer, etymologist, host of Countdown’s ‘Dictionary Corner’
- Gary Kemp: actor, musician, songwriter, founder member of Spandau Ballet
- Julie Hesmondhalgh: actress, activist
- Alom Shaha: Physics teacher, dad, author of Mr Shaha’s Recipes for Wonder
- Errollyn Wallen CBE: composer
- Kirstie Wilson: Kirklees Council, winner 2019 Hearts for the Arts Best Local Authority Arts Champion - Officer
- Samuel West: actor, director, Chair of the National Campaign for the Arts
The National Campaign for the Arts present the Hearts For The Arts Awards each year. The awards are delivered by UK Theatre, in partnership with Culture Counts, the Local Government Association (LGA), Theatre NI, Voluntary Arts Wales, Wales Council for Voluntary Action and Thrive NI.
For more information on the shortlisted nominees visit forthearts.org.uk/campaigns/hearts-for-the-arts/