What’s your art? Vote now

Arts Council England, North West calls for nominations in the £10,000 art08 awards

Local individual artists or organisations stand to win £10,000 with the launch of the art08 awards, the region’s unique annual cultural celebration, returning for its fifth consecutive year.

Arts Council England, North West, in partnership with the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) is calling for nominations from the public and artists.

art08 aims to promote and celebrate excellence and innovation in the arts and to recognise and reward those local groups, organisations and individuals creating truly inspiring and engaging work. Entries can be from any field and any discipline from festivals to dance and from theatre to visual or combined arts, literature or music. There are five award categories and an overall £10,000 prize will be awarded for Outstanding Achievement in the Arts.

Michael Eakin, Executive Director of Arts Council England, North West said: “art08 is a unique event for the north west, one that sees our regional arts organisations, and partners joining together to celebrate and applaud the best of our most innovative, established and up-and-coming talent. But art08 isn’t just about professionals; we want everyone to have their say and urge them to get in touch and nominate those artistic experiences they feel deserve rewarding.”

Artists can nominate themselves or be nominated by logging onto www.artscouncil.org.uk/art08 and the public can use the website address to vote on their favourites. The closing date for nominations is Friday, 3 October.

Categories are:
• Individual Artist Award 2008 – to celebrate and recognise the achievements of individual artists
• Inside, Outside and Online – celebrating where great art has found its way into people’s lives in new and exciting ways
• Putting the North West on the Map – recognising where an individual or organisation has made a significant impact in helping to raise the region’s profile and creative reputation
• Creative Sparks! – celebrating an arts partnership with business that has captured the hearts and minds of those involved
• Unsung Heroes – recognising those ‘back room’ players who have been critical to bringing success to an arts project
There will be a special awards ceremony at Liverpool’s Novas Contemporary Urban Centre on Thursday, 13 November to announce the winners.

Peter Mearns, NWDA Executive Director of Marketing and communications, said: “The north west is a leading region for cultural and creative industries, producing some of the country’s most outstanding talent. The NWDA is once again delighted to be able to support art08, and inspiring event which provides a fantastic opportunity to showcase some of the region’s leading artistic talent.”

Last year’s winner of art07’s £10,000 award was Manchester’s Jon Winstanley, artist and founder of Sketchcity which gives a platform for artists.

Other winners in art07 included the Liverpool Biennial Festival, Yvonne Wilson from Clayton-Le-Moors, Lancashire, took home the ‘Unsung Heroes’ award for her volunteer work with Lancashire’s Friends of Mercer Park scheme and Mid Pennine Arts’ Panopticons Project in Burnley scooped another of the awards.

art08 is held in partnership with the Northwest Regional Development Agency and is supported by Arts & Business North West and The Liverpool Culture Company.

For more information please visit www.artscouncil.org.uk/art08.

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Notes to editors

For press enquiries please contact Joanna Simpson at LIFE on 0161 236 3362 or 07734 333392.

About Arts Council England
Arts Council England works to get great art to everyone by championing, developing and investing in artistic experiences that enrich people's lives.

As the national development agency for the arts, we support a range of artistic activities from theatre to music, literature to dance, photography to digital art, and carnival to crafts.

Great art inspires us, brings us together and teaches us about ourselves, and the world around us. In short, it makes life better.

Between 2008 and 2011, the Arts Council will invest £1.3 billion of public money from government, and a further £0.3 billion from the National Lottery, to create these experiences for as many people as possible across the country.

art08 is held in partnership with the Northwest Regional Development Agency and is supported by Arts & Business North West and The Liverpool Culture Company.

About Northwest Regional Development Agency - (NWDA)
The NWDA leads the economic development and regeneration of England’s Northwest and is responsible for:

• Supporting business growth and encouraging investment
• Matching skills provision to employer needs
• Creating the conditions for economic growth
• Connecting the region through effective transport and communication infrastructure
• Promoting the region’s outstanding quality of life

For more information visit www.nwda.co.uk
About Liverpool Culture Company
The Liverpool Culture Company was established by Liverpool City Council in 2000 to lead the city’s bid to be European Capital of Culture 2008. In June 2003, following a two-year nationwide competition featuring 12 cities, Liverpool was chosen as the UK’s representative for 2008. The programme for 2008 includes more than 350 events and festivals – many of which are free – delivered in collaboration with major cultural institutions, artists, performers and venues throughout Liverpool and beyond. For more information visit www.liverpool08.com

About Arts & Business North West
Arts & Business North West aspires to be the world’s most successful and widespread creative network. We help business people support the arts and the arts inspire business people, because good business and great art together create a richer society.

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