Hearts for the Arts Awards 2021 Shortlist Announced

The shortlist has been announced for the Hearts for the Arts Awards 2021. The awards celebrate the unsung heroes of Local Authorities who are championing the arts against all odds. Nominations were received from across the UK for each of the three award categories.

The shortlist

Best Arts Project

  • Mole Valley Arts E-Live – Mole Valley District Council

  • The Creative Cabin – East Devon District Council

  • Necklace of Stars – Derbyshire County Council

  • N17 – Haringey Council

  • Create & Learn PlayKits – London Borough of Wandsworth (Arts Service)

  • Festival of Hope - Bolton, Carlisle, Cheshire West and Chester, Lancashire and Sefton

  • Dippy on Tour (North West) - Rochdale Borough Council & Link4Life Cultural Trust

  • Barnsley Museums: Families in Lockdown - Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council

  • Summer Hubs – Flintshire County Council

  • The Box, Plymouth – Plymouth City Council

  • Falling on your Feet – Durham County Council

  • Sea Folk Sing – Kent, Medway, and Swale

Best Arts Champion - Local Authority or Cultural Trust Worker

  • Sara O’Donnell – London Borough of Wandsworth

  • Andy Dawson - Inspire Youth Arts

  • Paul Cowell – Medway Council

  • Claudia Cartwright – Mole Valley District Council

Best Arts Champion – Councillor

  • Councillor Janet Emsley – Rochdale Borough Council

  • Councillor Jonathan Simpson – London Borough of Camden

  • Councillor Dale Heenan – Swindon Borough Council

  • Councillor Karen King - Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council

The Winners

The winners of the Hearts for the Arts Awards 2021 will be announced on Valentine’s Day, 14th February. This year’s winners will be selected from the shortlist by a judging panel of key arts industry experts and practitioners, including:

  • Le Gateau Chocolat, Drag artiste and cabaret performer

  • Paul Hartnoll, musician, composer, founder member of Orbital

  • Adrian Lester CBE, actor and director

  • Petra Roberts, Cultural Development Manager, Hackney Council (2020 winners for the Windrush Generations Festival)

  • Samuel West, actor, director, Chair of the National Campaign for the Arts

Challanges of 2020

Despite the incredible hardships faced by Local Authorities in 2020, this year's awards have seen the NCA receive a record-breaking number of nominations, as local communities turned to the arts for solace, strength and connectivity during the pandemic.

The Hearts for the Arts Awards were launched five years ago to highlight the achievements of Local Authorities continuing their arts services against a backdrop of severe financial cuts.

The National Campaign for the Arts present the Hearts for the Arts Awards each year. The awards are delivered by the NCA, in partnership with Culture Counts; the Local Government Association; Thrive; UK Theatre; Voluntary Arts Wales, Wales Council for Voluntary Action.

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

NewsLori AndersonPlace