Voluntary Arts is delighted to announce the winners of the 2011 Epic Awards for excellence in the arts and crafts across UK and the Republic of Ireland.
We have been bowled over by the quality and diversity of entries from voluntary arts groups which prove once again that there are so many excellent and innovative amateur arts and crafts groups doing great things in their communities.
The England award was won by Peterborough Male Voice Choir who have turned round the fortunes of their group through their innovative ‘New Directions’ project. They successfully modernised the choir, broadened its appeal and ensured that choral singing will be celebrated in Peterborough for years to come.
Phizzfest, a community arts festival in Dublin, scooped the Ireland award. The festival was the community’s response to the recession and was born out of a desire to regenerate the area through a series of diverse arts events in non-traditional venues like fire stations and prisons.
Renfrewshire-based drumming group Buddy Beat won the Scotland award for their inspiring video documenting the impact music had on their recovery from mental illness. The video has now taken on a life of its own and has been used for conferences and training worldwide!
The Wales award was won by Third Floor Gallery, a pioneering photography gallery in Cardiff. Their innovative way of producing exhibitions has enabled them to host renowned artists who might show at the Guggenheim or Tate!
The winners will receive a package of prizes including cash, training, equipment and publicity. They are also invited to a prestigious winners’ reception at the Royal Over-Seas League in London on 30th January 2012. Runners up will receive gift vouchers for art and craft supplies.
-ENDS-
Editor’s notes:
Images, logos and the Epic video are available from anne@vaengland.org.uk.
Epic Awards and Voluntary Arts
The Epic Awards are an initiative of Voluntary Arts and aim to identify and promote excellent art and craft practice that exists within the voluntary arts sector.
Voluntary Arts is the national development agency for arts participation. The organisation raises awareness of the contribution that the voluntary and amateur arts and crafts make to the well-being of communities, social inclusion, lifelong learning, active citizenship and volunteering.
Winners
More details about each winner can be found at www.epicawards.org.uk.
Individual websites are as follows:
Peterborough Male Voice Choir – www.peterboroughmvchoir.org.uk
Phizzfest – www.phizzfest.ie/phizzpress
Buddy Beat – www.buddybeat.co.uk
Third Floor Gallery – www.thirdfloorgallery.com
Runners up
England award – Unanima Theatre (www.unanima-theatre.co.uk)
Ireland award – Ballymena Arts Partnership (www.thebraid.com)
Scotland award – Castletown Heritage Society (www.castletownheritage.co.uk)
Wales award – Undercurrents (www.thesolcinema.org)
People’s Choice award
The public were able to vote for their favourite groups and the entry from each country to receive the most public votes received a year’s free subscription to Voluntary Arts’ brand new online Running Your Group resources (worth £69). The winners of the People’s Choice awards were:
England – Peterborough Male Voice Choir (www.peterboroughmvchoir.org.uk)
Ireland – Ballymena Arts Partnership (www.thebraid.com)
Scotland – Castletown Heritage Society (www.castletownheritage.co.uk)
Wales - Third Floor Gallery (www.thirdfloorgallery.com)
Prizes
There is a package of prizes which includes:
- £125 cash for each winner
- Annual membership of Arts Development UK (worth £165) for each winner
- GreatArt gift vouchers worth £250 for each winner
- GreatArt gift vouchers worth £100 for each runner-up
- National publicity for the winners and an invitation to a prestigious winners’ reception
- A pair of tickets to attend Twisted Thread’s textile craft show at either Olympia, London or Harrogate, Yorkshire.
- Plus training and mentoring
Full details of prizes can be found on the Epic Awards website: www.epicawards.co.uk.
Sponsors
People’s Voice Media’s vision is to connect communities through the use of social media to support civil society and improve governance. A not for profit community development organisation that supports communities to have a voice, they empower individuals and groups to tell their own stories and develop their own solutions. http://peoplesvoicemedia.co.uk/
Audiences UK is the national network of Audience Development Agencies, organisations that specialise in understanding how to engage and develop audiences. Twelve core member agencies work collaboratively to develop and deliver programmes and services based on the needs of their regions. http://www.audiencesuk.org/
Arts Development UK is a professional association, with a membership drawn from local authorities and those working in the creative industries sector in England and Wales. Their objectives are to offer practical advice, networking and support to the profession, and to advocate for the important contribution that the arts and creative industries make to today’s crosscutting agendas, such as social inclusion. http://artsdevelopmentuk.org
GreatArt has the UK’s largest range of art materials. Still very much a family business, GreatArt prides itself on the experience and expertise of its managers and staff whose specialist knowledge of the art supplies industry helps to ensure the efficient operation of Europe’s most comprehensive and competitive one-stop shop for quality art materials. http://www.greatart.co.uk/
Twistedthread organise five exhibitions annually for creative, crafty people who appreciate textile art. Their shows offer a great visitor experience combining exhibitions, workshops, shopping, lectures and competitions. http://www.twistedthread.com/
Mailout.co is the home of information, sharing and networking for participatory arts in the UK and further afield. Their mission is to champion outstanding participatory arts in more places with more people and support a world leading community of professional practitioners. http://mailout.co/
Press Contact:
Anne Witton
Communications Development Officer
Epic Awards
Voluntary Arts England
PO Box 1056,
Newcastle Upon Tyne.
NE99 1UE
0191 230 4464
