Nominations to Big ‘A’ Awards 2012

MEDIA RELEASE

Date: 17 February 2012
Attention: Arts reporters / Chief reporters
Nominations to Big ‘A’ Awards 2012

A new award recognising the artistic achievements of a disabled or sensory impaired artist is one of six award categories in the Big ‘A’ Awards 2012, presented every year by Arts Access Aotearoa at a ceremony in the Banquet Hall of Parliament. Nominations to this year’s Big ‘A’ Awards are now open.

The closing date is Friday 23 March 2012. The six award categories are:
• Big ‘A’ Artistic Achievement Award, recognising the outstanding achievements and contribution of an artist based in New Zealand, who has a physical, sensory or intellectual impairment, or is a mental health service user
• Big ‘A’ Creative Space Award, recognising the outstanding contribution and impact of a creative space that provides opportunities for people with limited access to make art, across any or all artforms
• Big ‘A’ Community Partnership Award, recognising a mutually beneficial partnership between two or more organisations or groups actively engaged in a community-based arts project
• Big ‘A’ Creative New Zealand Arts For All Award, recognising an arts organisation, company, venue or producer that best demonstrates its commitment to developing its audiences by becoming more accessible to the disabled community
• Big ‘A’ Prison Arts Leadership Award, recognising the outstanding contribution of an individual using the arts as a tool to support the rehabilitation/reintegration of prisoners. The individual must be an employee, contractor or volunteer with the Department of Corrections.
• Big ‘A’ Prison Arts Community Award, recognising the outstanding contribution of a community group or community organisation working with the Department of Corrections and using the arts as a tool to support the rehabilitation/reintegration of prisoners.
The Big ‘A’ Awards 2012 presentation will be held in the Banquet Hall at Parliament on 18 July. Last year’s awards ceremony was attended by more than 200 guests.

Richard Benge, Executive Director of Arts Access Aotearoa, said the Big ‘A’ Awards and its nomination process is a great opportunity for people to play a part in celebrating the often unsung heroes of New Zealand communities.

“We know from our work around New Zealand that there are many individuals and organisations working to ensure access to the arts for everyone in New Zealand, whatever their circumstances,” he said. “We’re also excited about our new award that will celebrate the achievements of an individual artist.”

Arts Access Aotearoa is a national organisation, advocating for all people in New Zealand to have access to the arts. Its key stakeholders are individuals and organisations in the community and professional arts sectors; people with physical or intellectual impairments; and mental health service users. It is also the key organisation in New Zealand facilitating the arts as a tool to support the rehabilitation/reintegration of prisoners.

Each of the six awards has a nomination form. You are able to nominate yourself or others. For more information and nomination forms, please visit our website (www.artsaccess.org.nz) or contact Pippa Sanderson at Arts Access Aotearoa (T: 04 802 4349 E: pippa.sanderson@artsaccess.org.nz). Nominations close at 5pm on Friday 23 March 2012.

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