On Wednesday 18th April Ulster Architectural Heritage launched the Heritage Angel Awards NI 2018. The awards funded by the Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation and Derry & Strabane District Council are administered by Ulster Architectural Heritage. Following last year’s outstanding success, the second Heritage Angel Awards NI were afforded a double launch, the first took place in the historic St Augustine’s Church, Derry~Londonderry, followed by Belfast at the Old Museum Building, College Square North.
The Awards seek to celebrate the efforts of people who go to extraordinary lengths to research, repair and rescue their local heritage. They also recognise those who champion heritage by sharing and practising forgotten craft skills. In addition they celebrate young people, recognising their efforts to learn about heritage.
At the Derry~Londonderry event local presenter Joe Mahon said that he had found the 2017 Awards engaging, interesting and inspiring and emphasised the importance of supporting the unsung heroes of heritage. In Belfast we heard from two of last year’s winners, Bill Wolsey, the Dirty Onion and Sebastian Graham, Mills of Northern Ireland. Bill Wolsey stated that if we look after the buildings, the buildings will look after the people and highlighted the value of investment in our built heritage.
Brigid O’Neill and Anthony Toner performed their bespoke compositions about buildings of Belfast written for the 2017 Heritage Angel Awards NI ceremony. An initiative supported in 2017 by Heritage Lottery Fund NI.
The Awards have been running successfully in England and Scotland for a number of years. Introduced to Northern Ireland in 2017, with Wales coming on board in 2018. Find out about other regions of the UK here.
This year’s five categories include:
- Best Rescue of an Historic Building or Place
- Best Major Regeneration of an historic building or place
- Best Contribution to a Heritage Project by Young People
- Best Craftsmanship or Apprenticeship on a Heritage Rescue or Repair Project
- Best Heritage Research, Interpretation or Recording
Nominations and applications are now open and will close on Friday 22nd June (previously 1st June). A team of heritage experts will have the tough task of whittling down shortlists for each category and a panel of judges will choose the eventual winners who will be announced at the Heritage Angels Awards NI ceremony on Tuesday 6th November at the Guildhall, Derry~Londonderry.
The award winner for each category will then move forward to represent Northern Ireland for the chance to be crowned overall Heritage Angel at a high profile ceremony in late November in London.
Nicola McVeigh, Chief Executive, Ulster Architectural Heritage, said: “UAH is delighted to launch the second Heritage Angel Awards in Northern Ireland and welcomes support for them from the Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation and Derry & Strabane District Council. The success of the 2017 Awards demonstrated the high level of activity and interest in local heritage and we hope by highlighting these achievements many more people will become involved in heritage projects.”
Andrew Lloyd Webber, who founded the Historic England Angel Awards in 2011, said: “I applaud everyone who enters the Angel Awards and showcases their heritage rescues. I am particularly pleased that Wales is on board this year so the Angel Awards are running for the first time in all four home nations. They shine a light on the special individuals and groups who tackle difficult historic buildings and sites at risk across the UK and inspire others to get involved. I am also excited to announce that at the awards ceremony in London this year, we will be presenting a special award to the overall winner from all the Angel Award categories in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, so I encourage everyone to come forward and send in their applications.”
For full details on how to apply to the 2018 Heritage Angel Awards NI or nominate someone else for an award please visit www.heritageangelawards-ni.org.uk/
Keep up to date with the latest from the Heritage Angel Awards NI on Twitter and Facebook.
