ONE WEEK LEFT TO NOMINATE FOR CULTURE AWARDS

here’s just one week left to get your nominations in for Carmarthenshire’s first Celebration of Culture Awards.
Individuals, groups and organisations will all be considered across a range of categories designed to shine a spotlight on all areas of cultural arts in Carmarthenshire at the awards in April.
The closing date for nominations is Friday, February 23 at 5pm.
Launched by Carmarthenshire County Council, the awards aim to celebrate excellence in arts and culture, and showcase our county-wide cultural achievements.
They are open to anyone living, working or originating from Carmarthenshire who made a significant contribution to Carmarthenshire’s cultural landscape during 2017.
Cllr Peter Hughes Griffiths, executive board member for culture, sport and tourism, is behind the awards scheme and believes it could be the start of an annual celebration.
“We are blessed with a rich cultural heritage here in Carmarthenshire with many distinguished artists, literary greats and stars of stage and screen who continue to inspire us to this day,” he said.
“In launching these awards, we want to celebrate those who enrich our lives and add vibrancy to this great county today.
“We hope this will be the start of something big, a way for our gifted people to be recognised and their talents enjoyed.”

Six award categories are being opened up for nominations. They are:

• Excellence in Performing Arts
Recognising a performer or group of performers or organisation who have stood out in 2017. This can include (but is not limited to) theatre, dance, spoken word, and comedy.
• Excellence in Visual Arts and Crafts
Recognising an individual, group or organisation working in the visual arts, design, photography, or crafts whose work has left a lasting impression in 2017.
• Excellence in Creative Media
Recognising the achievements of an individual, group or organisation in creative media during 2017. This could be for (but is not limited to) Film, Animation, Graphic Design, Games Design, and Digital Art.
• Excellence in Literature
Acknowledgement of an outstanding individual, group or organisation working in creative writing, literature, prose or poetry who stood out during 2017.
• Excellence in Heritage
Recognising excellence from an individual, group, or organisation which raised the profile or celebrated Carmarthenshire’s history and heritage in 2017.
• Excellence in Music
Recognising the achievements of an individual, group or organisation in music during 2017. This can include (but is not limited to) musicians, singers, conductors and composers.
Two special awards will be awarded at the judges’ selection:
• Young Talent
An individual or group, aged under 25, working in any discipline, who are displaying real talent and potential at a relatively young age.
• Outstanding Contribution to Culture
This is an award for someone who has made a significant contribution to arts and culture in Carmarthenshire over a long period.

A judging panel will select a long list, and then a short list, before choosing the award winner and two finalists in each category.

The awards will presented at a ceremony at the Ffwrnes Theatre, Llanelli, on Friday April 6, 2018

People can enter an individuals, group or organisation online at www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/cultureawards2018 or call into your local library, theatre box office or The Hub in Llanelli.