Nominations will soon close for the Scottish Heritage Angels Awards 2017, and groups and individuals – or ‘Angels’ – who have played a special part in caring for, recording and celebrating the nation’s historic environment are being urged to enter before the deadline of Monday, 28 August.
Launched in 2014 and funded by the Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation (ALWF), and run by the Scottish Civic Trust in partnership with Historic Environment Scotland, Archaeology Scotland and the Scottish Government, the scheme seeks to celebrate both groups and individuals who have gone above and beyond in their efforts to promote, protect and, in many cases, rescue Scotland’s heritage.
Last year saw entry submissions from the length and breadth of Scotland, with eventual winners including Mark Cranston, for his remarkable efforts to collect, catalogue and research Scottish bricks, and Dig TV, a television channel run entirely by young people to highlight an archaeological dig in Dumfries, which scooped the first Young Heritage Angel award.
This year, a brand new set of categories have been introduced for the Scottish Heritage Angel Awards. They are:
- Best Rescue of a Historic Building
- Best Contribution to a Heritage Project by Young People
- Best Craftsperson or Apprentice on a Heritage Rescue or Repair Project
- Best Rescue, Recording or Interpretation of a Historic Place
Nominations close on Monday 28 August. A panel of heritage experts will have the tough task of whittling down shortlists for each category and a panel of judges will choose the eventual winners who will be announced at the Scottish Heritage Angels Awards ceremony on Monday 16 October at the Assembly Rooms in Edinburgh.
In an exciting first, an overall winner from the Heritage Angel Awards in Scotland, England and Northern Ireland will be selected and crowned at the London ceremony.
John Pelan, Director of the Scottish Civic Trust, said: "With just days to go until the deadline, we’re urging people to get their entries and nominations in before 28 August."
"This year we’re looking for professionals and apprentices, as well as volunteers and voluntary groups who can demonstrate that their project has had a wider community benefit."
"Last year we showcased some wonderful projects reflecting the scale and diversity of heritage initiatives throughout the country, and I am confident that in in this Year of History, Heritage and Archaeology we can do so again."
Andrew Lloyd Webber, whose charitable foundation helped establish the Scottish Heritage Angel Awards, said: "I am delighted that the Scottish Heritage Angel Awards are open for another year of applications.
"Too often the individuals and groups who work tirelessly to protect their local historic buildings go unnoticed. We set up the Angel Awards in Scotland three years ago to change all that.
"I encourage everyone to come forward and celebrate these stars of heritage – those who keep our heritage alive and thriving for the next generation deserve to stand in the spotlight."
The Scottish Heritage Angel Awards support the delivery of Scotland’s historic environment strategy Our Place in Time, which places a strong focus on supporting and enabling community participation and engagement across the historic environment.
Scottish Heritage Angel Awards Categories
- Best Rescue of a Historic Building
This award recognises volunteers and professionals, individuals and groups who have rescued a historic building. This category includes locally and nationally listed buildings, sites on the Buildings at Risk Register and places of worship. It does not have to be listed; it could be part of a conservation area or a local building of significant interest. All sizes of rescue project are eligible, as it is the actions taken to rescue them that will be judged. Nominations should provide evidence of community benefit and involvement, where appropriate. - Best Contribution to a Heritage Project by Young People
This award will recognise the contribution to heritage projects by young people up to and including the age of 25. The award can be for individuals or groups and can include students and young apprentices. Groups can include school children, projects from social clubs or local volunteer groups. The 'contribution' should be towards a heritage project or place (as above, this doesn’t have to be listed). Adults may enter an application on behalf of under 16s, and where relevant, both would be acknowledged. - Best Craftsperson or Apprentice on a Heritage Rescue or Repair Project
This award will recognise a volunteer, professional individual or apprentice who has demonstrated the application of craft skills that have been key in repairing or rescuing a historic site. For example, it could be someone who has carved stone gargoyles for a church, or repaired a historic window. The craft can be from any discipline, for example, woodwork, masonry, metalwork or thatching. - Best Rescue, Recording or Interpretation of a Historic Place
This award recognises volunteers and professionals, individuals and groups who rescue, record or interpret any kind of historic place. This could be an archaeological site, scheduled monument or battlefield. For example, it could be a group of local people identifying areas of improvement for their local conservation area, an individual who has restored a historic garden, a group who have saved a stone circle or a team who have helped research archaeological remains in a landscape.
About the Scottish Heritage Angel Awards
The awards are delivered in partnership between the Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation, the Scottish Civic Trust, Historic Environment Scotland, Archaeology Scotland and the Scottish Government. The Scottish Civic Trust is the main delivery partner. The awards programme supports the delivery of Scotland’s Historic Environment Strategy, Our Place in Time, with its strong emphasis on community participation in heritage.
About the Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation
- The Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation was set up by Andrew in 1992 to promote the arts, culture and heritage for the public benefit; since inception Andrew has been the principal provider of funding for all its charitable activities.
- In 2010, the Foundation embarked on an active grant giving programme and has now awarded grants of over £16m to support high quality training and personal development as well as other projects that make a real difference to enrich the quality of life both for individuals and within local communities. Significant grants include £3.5m to Arts Educational Schools, London to create a state of the art professional theatre, £2.4m to The Music in Secondary Schools Trust, £1m to The Architectural Heritage Fund, $1.3m to the American Theatre Wing and over £300,000 annually to fund 30 performing arts scholarships for talented students in financial need.
- Find out more at www.andrewlloydwebberfoundation.com or on Twitter @ALWFoundation
For further information on the Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation, please contact:
Contact: Truda Spruyt/Laura Steele at Four Colman Getty
Direct line: 020 3697 4248 / 020 3697 4241
Email: Truda.spruyt@fourcolmangetty.com / Laura.Steele@fourcolmangetty.com
About Historic Environment Scotland (HES)
- We are the lead public body charged with caring for, protecting and promoting the historic environment. We will lead on delivering Scotland’s first strategy for the historic environment, Our Place in Time.
- Historic Scotland is a sub brand of HES.
- View our press pack and keep up to date by registering for media release email alerts. If you wish to unsubscribe, please contact us.
Year of History, Heritage and Archaeology 2017
2017 is the Year of History, Heritage and Archaeology (HHA), a year that will celebrate Scotland’s people, our distinct culture and traditions, our historic landscapes, attractions and icons as well as our hidden gems and amazing stories. From World Heritage Sites to ancient monuments, listed buildings to historic battlefields, cultural traditions to our myths, stories and legends, 2017 is the year to explore Scotland’s fascinating past. This is a Scottish Government initiative being led by VisitScotland and a variety of partners.
Get involved on Twitter with #HHA2017
Follow Historic Environment Scotland
Twitter: @HistEnvScot | @welovehistory
Facebook: @HistoricEnvScotland | @VisitHistoricScotland
For further information
Claire Mullaney
Historic Environment Scotland Media Office
Direct Line: 0131 668 8588
Mobile: 07881 512 379
claire.mullaney@hes.scot