Shortlist Announced for 2018 Hearts for the Arts

The shortlist has been announced for the National Campaign for the Arts' (NCA) Hearts For The Arts Awards 2018. The awards celebrate the work of Councils, Councillors and Council Officers who have overcome 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. This year the campaign received more nominations than ever before and from all four UK nations.

The shortlist was judged by representatives from this year's partners in the awards: UK Theatre, Arts Development UK, Culture Counts, the Local Government Association, and What Next?.

Samuel West, Chair of the National Campaign for the Arts, said, "This year, the quality and quantity of the nominees from all four UK nations shows how much people want to celebrate these unsung heroes, who work so hard to keep the arts at the centre of our communities. Judging has been a challenge, but as ever we are thrilled and inspired by the incredible people and projects which have made the shortlist."

The winners of the Hearts For The Arts Awards 2018 will be announced on Wednesday 14 February. The winners' judges for the 2018 awards will be: Samuel West (Chair of the NCA), Rachel Wood (Arts Development Officer, Oldham Borough Council AND 2017 winner), Roy Williams, OBE (Playwright and NCA Board Member), Phillip Pullman (Author), David Lan (Playwright and Director), Josie Long (Comedian) and Maria Balshaw (Director of Tate).

• Best Local Authority Arts Initiative
  • Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council: Art in the public realm programme
  • Plymouth City Council: I.AM.NOT.A.ROBOT
  • Milton Keynes Council: MK50
  • Cambridge City Council: Activate
  • Herefordshire Council: Early Hurly Burly
• Best Local Authority Arts Champion- Councillor
  • Stoke-on-Trent City Council: Councillor Abi Brown
  • Milton Keynes Council: Councillor Liz Gifford
  • Oxford City Council: Councillor Bob Price
  • Bolton Council: Councillor Cliff Morris
  • Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council: Councillor Janet Emsley
• Best Local Authority Arts Champion- Officer
  • Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council: Caroline O'Neill
  • London Borough of Waltham Forest: Lorna Lee
  • Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council: Anne Hayes
  • Norfolk County Council: Mary Muir
  • London Borough of Barking & Dagenham: Lena Smith
  • Bolton Council: Stephen Young
• Local Authority Arts Project Encouraging Community Cohesion
  • Oxford City Council: Journeys to Oxford at the Museum of Oxford
  • Calderdale Council: Landlines and Watermarks
  • Denbighshire County Council: Lost in Art
  • Manchester City Council: Manchester Day
  • Mid and East Antrim Borough Council: The Creative Citizens Programme

The 2018 Hearts For The Arts Awards are delivered by the NCA and UK Theatre, in partnership with Culture Counts, the Local Government Association (LGA), Arts Development UK (ADUK) and What Next?.

For more information on the shortlisted nominees visit http://bit.ly/2moMesH