Wandsworth Council shortlisted for two champion of the arts awards – for the second year running

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Wandsworth Council shortlisted for two champion of the arts awards – for the second year running

Postby Community Editor » Fri Jan 15, 2021 1:28 pm

The Hearts for the Arts Awards 2021 shortlist has been announced, with Wandsworth Council being shortlisted twice by a panel of key arts industry experts and practitioners. 
 
The annual awards celebrate the unsung heroes of local authorities who are championing the arts, often within a climate of severe financial challenges, as well as this year the added challenges that lockdown has caused. The winners will be announced on February 14. 

The National Campaign for the Arts awards shortlisted Wandsworth Council for Best Arts Project for Create & Learn PlayKits –packs of creative materials and activities distributed to over 3,500 local children aged 6-10 years old that were most in need.   

Wandsworth Council arts and culture spokesman Cllr Steffi Sutters said: "We are delighted that this fantastic project has been nominated. I'd like to stress that this was very much a partnership between the council, volunteers and a wide range of cultural organisations. We hope the kits have helped young people in Wandsworth, together with their families, continue to explore art and creativity throughout lockdown." 

ImagePupils from Albemarle Primary School with their Create and Learn PlayKits

Wandsworth Council’s  Sara O’Donnell has been nominated for Best Arts Champion – Local Authority or Cultural Trust Worker - for her work as Head of Arts and Culture in Wandsworth Council’s arts service. 

Cllr Sutters said: "Our ambition in Wandsworth is to put art and culture at the heart of local communities, and, as head of our arts team, Sara has spearheaded our work. The team's vision and dedication have been especially impressive during the pandemic - they have continued to support artists and venues, provided online platforms for their work and moved the entire 2020 Wandsworth Arts Fringe online in a matter of weeks."  

Each May the Wandsworth Arts Fringe (WAF) run by the council’s arts team is a highlight of the borough’s cultural calendar and this year hundreds of local and international artists were due to present 150 events.  As lockdown loomed the arts team managed in just four weeks to convert it into an online festival and www.wandsworthartsfringe.com hosted an extensive and eclectic programme of 104 events from 250 artists including theatre, online murder mystery games, events for children, visual arts, music concerts, dance, sketching lessons, workshops and classes, and even an opera and a sword initiation workshop.  

For families without digital access activity packs were distributed to over 2,000 local families in Roehampton, Earlsfield, Battersea and Nine Elms.  

The arts team also works with local arts and culture organisations to support them through the pandemic, was involved in the council’s Black History Month programme and is working with schools on supporting young people’s mental health and promoting career pathways in the cultural and creative industries.   

Artists, designers, makers, creative producers and organisations from the borough can create free profiles on the Wandsworth Art website and take part in the Framed project, to display artwork in the borough’s high streets. The website is also a chance for artists and residents to find out about the local creative scene and the new Wandsworth Arts Strategy.

Visit  https://wandsworthart.com/  If you are interested in taking part in next year’s Wandsworth Arts Fringe, you can express your interest before the end of January at www.wandsworthfringe.com.  

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Sarah O'Donnell
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