The shortlist for the Epic Awards 2016 has been announced
From volunteers who transformed a disused railway station platform to a Gaelic singing group the shortlist for this year’s Epic Awards is pretty outstanding.
Now in its sixth year, the awards run by Voluntary Arts, with the support from Spirit of 2012, aim to celebrate the best voluntary arts groups in the UK and Republic of Ireland.
In Scotland eight groups have been selected by and a judging panel from Voluntary Arts Scotland will select the country’s national champion and runner up.
We are extremely proud to be able to celebrate their stories with these awards.
These are: Kilmarnock Railway Station Heritage, Rusty Boat Theatre Company, Sew La Tea Dough, Stramash Stornoway, alter:nativity, Deeside Knitwits, Guthan an Iar and Hidden Door Festival.
The organisations will also compete in the public vote People’s Choice Award and Peers’ Award for Excellence which is voted for by all the shortlisted groups.
“Each year the Epic Awards bring to light some of the finest examples of community-based voluntary arts groups that involve people across Republic of Ireland and United Kingdom every day,” Robin Simpson, Voluntary Arts chief executive said.
“We are extremely proud to be able to celebrate their stories with these awards.
“The shortlisted projects – from knitting, music or theatre groups to community festivals and creative work with young people and disabled people – brilliantly showcase the skill, innovation and hard work that goes into keeping the creative spirit of local communities alive.”
This year’s winners will be announced at the awards ceremony which will take place in Cardiff on Saturday, 2 April.
Groups are judged on their own merits and from the perspective of the group itself, which means assessing whether what the group has achieved is truly epic for them. Their impact on communities and members is measured by evaluating their engagement, partnerships, innovation and creativity (EPIC).
For more information on each of the shortlisted Scottish organisations, and to take part in the public vote, visit the awards website before 5pm, Wednesday, 23 March.
