Published: 24 Jun 2015
Please note - the deadline for votes has now passed
The organisers behind the Glasgow 2014 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 2 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.
It 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.
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.
Janice Kelly in capacity as Portfolio Manager Glasgow 2014 Cultural Programme for Creative Scotland says:
“On behalf of all the projects I’m delighted that the Glasgow 2014 Cultural Programme has reached the finals of The National Lottery Awards. Lottery money has really helped communities all across 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.”
Councillor Archie Graham, Depute Leader of Glasgow City Council and Chair of Glasgow Life said:
“The Cultural Programme helped the Commonwealth Games reach beyond the sporting audiences to become a truly national celebration of Glasgow’s status as host city. It helped create an unbelievable sense of pride across Scotland as we welcomed the world and engaged people with the projects
involved creating new cultural partnerships and audiences to give us a lasting and enduring legacy of the Games. It was a unique project, supported by the National Lottery and would be a fitting winner of this award.”
Glasgow 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.
Woman’s Weekly is featuring the work of the arts category finalists in the magazine and encouraging readers to vote for their favourite project. Editor, Diane Kenwood, was on the judging panel that shortlisted the finalists:
“The wonderful work being done by The National Lottery Awards finalists is really impressive and inspiring. The community spirit, compassion and dedication deserves to be celebrated nationally.”
“It is really important for people to show their support for their local project so it can get the national recognition it deserves. National Lottery players should be delighted that £34 million of Lottery funding is raised every week for projects like this across the UK.”
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, sarah.myers@lotterygoodcauses.org.uk or 0141 242 1414/07828 617962
Creative Scotland: Sophie Bambrough, sophie.bambrough@creativescotland.com0r 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; https://www.creativescotland.com/what-we-do/major-projects/national-projects/glasgow-2014