Public voting opens: 9am, Wednesday 24 June
Deadline: Midnight, Wednesday 29 July
To vote: http://www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk/project/glasgow-2014-cultural-programme or Telephone: 0844 836 9707
#NLAwards
THE organisers behind the 2014 Commonwealth Games Cultural Programme are appealing for local votes as they strive for nationwide acclaim on BBC One in this year’s National Lottery Awards.
The Cultural Programme – which celebrated Scotland’s hosting of the XX Commonwealth Games and was the most ambitious and wide-reaching programme of national cultural activity that has ever taken place in the country, with audiences of over two million in theatre, music, exhibition, dance, poetry and film, and over 600,000 participants – beat off stiff competition from 620 organisations to reach the public voting stage in this year’s National Lottery Awards – the annual search for the UK’s favourite Lottery-funded projects.
Four projects took place in Angus as part of the Cultural Programme, including The Big Song Relay delivered by Hands Up For Trad.
The Big Song Relay was a co-ordinated nationwide singing project showcasing unity and diversity by linking communities from across Scotland to celebrate Culture 2014. Here’s To All Our Common Wealth, co-written by Phil Cunningham, Findlay Napier, Alison Burns and with early input from Karine Polwart, was performed by 72 community choirs at locations along the route of the Queen’s Baton Relay and was written to anticipate and capture the excitement and mood ahead of Glasgow 2014.
Simon Thoumire, creative director at Hands Up For Trad, said: “It was brilliant to be part of the Glasgow 2014 Cultural Programme. With the Big Song Relay it gave us an opportunity to take singing country wide and spread the good news that singing makes you smile! We also managed to engage nationally with many communities we wouldn’t have reached otherwise. Thanks again!”
To vote for the 2014 Commonwealth Games Cultural Programme, please go to www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk/awards or telephone 0844 836 9707 and follow the campaign on twitter: hashtag #NLAwards.
Voting runs for five weeks from 9am on Wednesday 24 June until midnight on Wednesday 29 July.
The programme is competing against six other organisations to be crowned the winner of the Arts category.
Winners of the seven National Lottery Awards categories will get a £2,000 cash prize, an iconic National Lottery Awards trophy and attend a star-studded Awards ceremony, broadcast on BBC One in September.
Janice Kelly in capacity as portfolio manager for the 2014 Commonwealth Games Cultural Programme for Creative Scotland, said: “On behalf of all the projects which took place right across Scotland, I’m delighted that the 2014 Cultural Programme has reached the finals of The National Lottery Awards.
“Lottery money has really helped local communities throughout the country take part in a huge range of activity from grassroots workshops and learning opportunities, to large scale, spectacular and fun events, all inspired by the values and spirit of the Commonwealth Games.
“From the Highlands and Islands to the Borders, from east to west and in towns and villages in between, visitors and communities have come together for a unique experience.”
TV star and actor, John Barrowman, will be presenting the National Lottery Awards for the fifth time this year.
He said: “The exceptional work carried out by National Lottery Awards finalists never fails to astound me. Their work deserves to be celebrated nationally; the community spirit, social cohesion and compassion.
“It is crucial that you show your support for your local project so it can get the national glory that it richly deserves. National Lottery players should swell with pride that £34 million of Lottery funding is raised every single week for projects like this across the UK.”
The 2014 Cultural Programme consisted of two strands: the Scotland-wide programme of activity, Culture 2014 and the Games-time Glasgow-based Festival 2014. This ambitious and accessible cultural celebration was developed through a unique collaboration between the performers and artists, communities across the country
Work was presented for the Glasgow 2014 Cultural Programme across all artforms, from the intimate to the spectacular, as well as ground-breaking nationwide projects such as GENERATION – the celebration of 25 years of contemporary art in Scotland, Big Big Sing and Get Scotland Dancing.
There are seven projects competing for votes across seven categories, reflecting the main areas of National Lottery funding: arts, sport, heritage, health, environment, education and voluntary/charity.
ENDS
For further information please contact: THE NATIONAL LOTTERY AWARDS
Sarah Myers
E: sarah.myers@lotterygoodcauses.org.uk
T: 0141 242 1414 / 07828 617962
CREATIVE SCOTLAND
Sophie Bambrough
E: sophie.bambrough@creativescotland.com
T: 0131 523 0015 / 07747606146
Notes to editors
- Glasgow 2014 Cultural Programme received £9.1m of National Lottery funding through Creative Scotland. Creative Scotland, Glasgow Life and the National Lottery Promotions Unit (NLPU) are coordinating the campaign.
- The Glasgow 2014 Cultural Programme was a partnership between the Glasgow 2014 Organising Committee, Glasgow Life and Creative Scotland through National Lottery funding. Creative Scotland is the public body that supports the arts, screen and creative industries across all parts of Scotland on behalf of everyone who lives, works or visits here. We enable people and organisations to work in and experience the arts, screen and creative industries in Scotland by helping others to develop great ideas and bring them to life. We distribute funding provided by the Scottish Government and the National Lottery. For further information about Creative Scotland please visit www.creativescotland.com. Follow us @creativescots and www.facebook.com/CreativeScotland
- Glasgow 2014 Cultural Programme was Scotland’s biggest ever nationwide cultural celebration. Audiences of more than 2.1 million actively engaged with and enjoyed cultural activity throughout Scotland For further information about the Cultural Programme please visit; http://www.creativescotland.com/what-we-do/major-projects/national-projects/glasgow-2014
- If the Glasgow 2014 Cultural programme wins the Award in its category the £2,000 cash prize will be donated to UNICEF, the official charity partner of the XX Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in 2014.
- Telephone voting calls cost 5p max (a connection charge may be applied by some networks. Please check with your provider.)
- All voting will be independently adjudicated and verified by Electoral Reform Services.
MEDIA RELEASE issued by Creative Scotland. You too can post your story ideas for journalists (aka press or media releases), on allmediascotland.com. Email here for more information.
Check out twitter.com/nonstopstories for your very own media releases feed…
To catch up on all the media releases recently posted on to allmediascotland.com, you need only click the link icon that you see towards the bottom right of our two media release ‘gateway boxes’.
It’s this icon, here. It’s your route straight into the rich archive.
—
Creative Scotland contact details…
Contact: Sophie Bambrough
Email: sophie.bambrough@creativescotland.com
Website: http://www.creativescotland.com
