Hearts for the Arts 2018 Launched: Delivered by the NCA & UK Theatre

Press release: Wednesday 27 September    

NOMINATIONS OPEN FOR HEARTS FOR THE ARTS AWARDS 2018

The National Campaign for the Arts' (NCA) Hearts For The Arts Awards celebrate the work of Councils, Councillors and Council Officers who have overcome financial challenges to ensure the arts stay at the centre of community life. The 2018 Hearts For The Arts Awards will be delivered by the NCA and UK Theatre, in partnership with Culture Counts, the Local Government Association (LGA), Arts Development UK (ADUK) and What Next?.

Nominations are welcome from members of the public and from Local Authorities, in the following categories:  

• Best Local Authority Arts Initiative
  
• Best Local Authority Arts Champion- Councillor
  
• Best Local Authority Arts Champion- Officer
  
• Local Authority Arts Project encouraging community cohesion

Nominations can be made online at forthearts.org.uk/campaigns/hearts-for-the-arts.

Winners will be presented with their Awards at their Town Hall (or equivalent) by a renowned artist. Last year’s presenters included Samuel West, Howard Goodall CBE and Olivia Colman.

Samuel West, Chair of the NCA, said: “Councils across the country live under real financial pressure, yet the success of these Awards in 2017 shows that arts programmes that unite and delight us can still be driven forward by passionate, committed people. In celebrating them and the essential work of some councils, we want to inspire others to keep the arts at the heart of their communities. Few things can bring us together like the arts can, and we need that now more than ever.”

The 2017 winners were: Nottingham City Council for Nottingham Performing Arts Library Service (NPALS), for Best Local Authority Arts Initiative; Councillor Wendy Simon of Liverpool City Council for Best Local Authority Arts Champion – Councillor; Pokuaa Osei of London Borough of Haringey and Rachel Wood of Oldham Council for Best Local Authority Arts Champion – Officer; London Borough of Lewisham for Meet Me at The Albany, for Best Local Authority Arts Project Encouraging Community Cohesion.

For more information visit forthearts.org.uk/campaigns/hearts-for-the-arts.

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Notes to editors:

The National Campaign for the Arts’ Hearts for the Arts Awards are delivered by the NCA and UK Theatre in partnership with What Next?, Culture Counts, Arts Development: UK and the Local Government Association.

National Campaign for the Arts

The National Campaign for the Arts (NCA) is the UK’s independent campaigning organisation for the arts. It provides a voice for the sector and ensures that artists, arts organisations, the media and politicians have access to relevant, robust data and intelligence to make the case for the arts effectively.

UK Theatre

UK Theatre is the UK’s leading theatre and performing arts membership organisation –promoting excellence, professional development, and campaigning to improve resilience and increase audiences across the sector.