Cheshire West Community and Voluntary Arts Celebration

Cheshire West and Chester Council is supporting Cheshire West Voluntary Arts Network to run its sixth arts celebration event to recognise and celebrate the work many groups do using arts in their local communities.

The 2020 Awards were unable to run because of COVID-19, and this year the Voluntary Arts Network are doing things a little differently and celebrating Community and Voluntary Arts Champions from March 2020 until June 2021. 

The unsung heroes and community groups who have enabled people of all ages to participate in a wide range of arts activities during the pandemic will be honoured at a special awards evening at St Mary’s Creative Space, Chester on Friday 27 August.  

Councillor Louise Gittins, Leader of Cheshire West and Chester Council said: “This is your chance to nominate an organisation or individuals. 

“There will be no winners, we want to celebrate the contributions that have been made since March 2020 from as wide a range of groups as possible. 

“We’d also like to hear from organisations that might wish to make a nomination. If you are an arts group or know of an arts group or individual arts champion who has been able to deliver great support to their community during the pandemic, then celebrate your projects, volunteers and organisation.” 

Which groups, projects or individuals can be nominated?

• Activity must take place in the West Cheshire local authority area.

• Organisations can be voluntary, professional or led by a creative individual as long as the participants are involved in the shaping and running of the project. Any paid staff should not be the main decision makers of the group.

• Participants take part on an amateur basis (ie are unpaid)

• Some of the activity happened between March 2020 and June 2021

• Previous nominees can reapply.

More than 150 organisations across Cheshire West create opportunities for people of all ages to participate in music, song, dance, art, theatre and much more. 

At least 15,000 local people in Chester, Ellesmere Port and the Northwich and Winsford areas take part in these activities, learning new skills, gaining confidence, enhancing their life opportunities and making new friends.  

To nominate an organisation, or individual complete an application form available from:

artswest@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk 

The deadline for applications is 9am, Monday 2 August 2021. 

Cheshire West Voluntary Arts Network supports and promotes voluntary arts groups across Cheshire West and Chester.