Nominations open for Hearts for the Arts Awards 2020

The Awards are an initiative of the National Campaign for the
Arts, which advocates greater public investment in the arts to
improve the lives of people across the UK. The awards are delivered
by UK Theatre, and judged by a panel of leading arts figures (this
year’s judges to be announced). 

From 10 October until voting closes on 8 November, Members of
the public, arts professionals, local authorities and cultural
trusts can visit the Hearts
for the Arts Awards webpage to put nominations forward in five
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

This year, changes have been made to include the activities of
cultural trusts working on be- half of local authorities. The
National Campaign for the Arts is keen to recognise those who have
used trust status to enhance arts provision and benefit local
people. 

A new award has been added, ‘Best Arts Project – Arts, Health
and Wellbeing’, recognising projects that have had a positive
impact on mental and physical health and wellbeing of individuals
and communities. 

And the Best Arts Champion category has been opened up to allow
nominations for any local authority or cultural trust worker;
nominations are encouraged from all areas. 

The awards will be presented by Samuel West, actor and Chair of
the NCA, at the Local Government Association’s Culture, Tourism and
Sport Conference on 3 March, the largest annual gathering of
councillors and officers involved with culture, tourism and sport.
In addition, Samuel West has offered to speak at a council meeting
of each recipient, accompanied by a celebrated fellow performer or
creative with a local connection. 

Samuel West said:

‘A thriving local arts scene makes us all healthier and happier.
In these days of ever harder financial decisions, we at the
National Campaign for the Arts are delighted to reward those who
bring the most interesting, innovative and effective cultural
projects to life. It’s more important than ever that we recognise
the incredible contributions of the individuals behind the scenes:
that’s what the Hearts for the Arts awards are all about’.