Second 2017 Hearts for the Arts Awards Winner Announced

Nottingham City Council wins Best Local Authority Arts Initiative for Nottingham Performing Arts Library Service (NPALS).

What Next? and the National Campaign for the Arts have come together to create the Hearts for the Arts Awards, a new initiative to reward and thank Councils, Councillors and Council officers who are overcoming financial challenges to ensure the arts stay at the centre of community life.

Nominations were received for awards in four categories: Best Local Authority Arts Initiative, Best Local Authority Arts Champion - Councillor, Best Local Authority Arts Champion - Officer, and Best Local Authority Arts Project encouraging community cohesion.

The world-renowned judging panel comprised Assistant Principal (London) of King's College London and former Royal Ballet Principal Dancer Deborah Bull CBE, visual artist Bob & Roberta Smith, playwright and director David Lan, musician Chi-chi Nwanoku OBE, comedian and writer AL Kennedy, and actor and director Samuel West.

Saturday 11 - Tuesday 14 February a winner will be announced daily at noon for each of the four categories.

The winner of Best Local Authority Arts Initiative, announced at noon on Sunday 12 February, is Nottingham City Council for Nottingham Performing Arts Library Service (NPALS).

Nottingham and Leicester City Libraries were both providing well-used music and drama sets services, loaning material to local amateur groups who wouldn't be able to afford the rates from commercial publishers. However, this was at a cost that neither local authority could continue to support. The solution was the first purpose-built music and drama library IT system, allowing users to browse the catalogue online, to view the availability of material in real time, and to make reservations of sets up to a year in advance. It is the first regional hub performing arts library, and projects break-even within two years, subsequently generating sufficient surplus to cover ongoing capital costs and paying back its capital investment over five years.

One of our judges, Chi-chi Nwanoku OBE, commented, "An outstanding initiative demonstrating resourceful and creative thinking, outside of the box."

Further details can be found at: http://forthearts.org.uk/hearts-arts-shortlist-nottingham-city-council-nottingham-performing-arts-library-service-npals