Heritage Council To Recognise Heritage Projects From County Clare For Its National Heritage Awards Scheme
The Heritage Council has, today (20.07.21), announced details of the National Heritage Awards 2021, which will recognise successful heritage projects showcased during this year’s National Heritage Week.
Included in the seven award categories is a county award which recognises the best heritage project in each county, including County Clare.
Organised by the Heritage Council, National Heritage Week is one of Ireland’s largest cultural events.
Running from Saturday, 14th – Sunday, 22nd August, the focus of this year’s event, is on opening the door to heritage and getting as many people as possible to enjoy heritage.
The county award category recognises those projects that promote awareness of, and engagement with heritage in the community.
The winners in each county, including County Clare will have maximised the involvement of a community in the project development or execution and increased awareness of an aspect of heritage in a community.
Project organisers might choose to create something unique, or to build on an existing heritage project, or heritage networks in a community.
Speaking about today’s announcement, the Chief Executive of the Heritage Council, Virginia Teehan, said:
“The National Heritage Awards provides an opportunity to reflect on the dedication and enthusiasm of the National Heritage Week project organisers and to celebrate the success of their heritage projects.”
In addition to county awards, the following award categories will apply to this year’s awards:
Heritage Hero: awarded to an individual or organisation that has demonstrated an outstanding contribution to the protection and promotion of heritage in Ireland. This award will be based on nominations received by members of the public.
Heritage newcomers: Awarded to an individual or a group who have not previously participated in National Heritage Week, and who demonstrated considerable interest and innovation in their first encounter with the week.
Heritage sharing: Awarded to the project which connected with an individual or a group in the community which is normally excluded from heritage; or a project which explored an aspect of local heritage that is seldom considered or celebrated.
Heritage for all ages: Awarded to a National Heritage Week project which successfully included participants from different age groups.
Water Heritage: Awarded to the project that best explores how a canal, river, lake or the sea shapes heritage in a locality, and which is shared with the wider community.
Wild Child: Awarded to a National Heritage Week project which successfully encourages children and families to drop the devices, jump off the couch and get outdoors for and explore the heritage in their locality.
All participants who successfully upload a heritage project on the National Heritage Week website by Monday, 30th August 2021 will be considered for a National Heritage Award.
Projects will be assessed on the basis of their local reach and community engagement, educational value and the level to which they involve different age groups.
A judging panel, convened by the Heritage Council, will consider submitted heritage projects for awards under the categories listed above. Awards will be announced in October 2021.
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