Awards celebrate unsung heroes

The Big "A" Awards, presented every year by Arts Access Aotearoa at a ceremony in Parliament, celebrate artistic diversity and the often unsung heroes working to provide access to arts activities and events.

The call has gone out for nominations to the Big "A" Awards 2012. Richard Benge, executive director of Arts Access Aotearoa, is keen to see nominations from individuals and organisations around the country.

Arts Access Aotearoa is the key organisation advocating for artists and communities with limited access to the arts. It receives core funding from Creative New Zealand.

It also advocates for the arts as a tool supporting the rehabilitation and reintegration of prisoners. This work is funded through the Department of Corrections.

In his keynote address to guests at the Big "A" Awards ceremony, Arts Minister Christopher Finlayson said: "The arts cannot cross boundaries while barriers remain for a significant sector in the community. Arts Access Aotearoa is doing invaluable work to dismantle these barriers.

"These awards are an excellent way to recognise the fruits of that work, and to celebrate the individuals and institutions who are making it happen."

This year, Arts Access Aotearoa has introduced the Big "A" Artistic Achievement Award, recognising the achievements and contribution of a practising disabled artist based in New Zealand.

The five other awards are:

Big "A" Creative Space Award, celebrating spaces providing 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/formal structures 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 rehabilitative/reintegration tool in prisons. The individual must be an employee, contractor or volunteer with Corrections.

Big "A" Prison Arts Partnership Award, recognising the outstanding contribution of a community group or organisation, working with Corrections and using the arts as a rehabilitative/reintegration tool in prisons.

The closing date for nominations is 5pm, Friday, March 23.

For more contact the office: Ph 04 802 4349, info@artsaccess.org.nz, or visit www.artsaccess.org.nz.