Huntly Wins Judges' Special Creativity Award

Huntly has won a Special Judges Award at Scotland's first Creative Places Award Ceremony.

The award recognises the town's creative use of artists and reflects the work of Deveron Arts in bringing top international artists to the town and the positive way that the community has engaged with them.

Huntly had been nominated for the title of Scotland's most creative place in the category of 2,500-10,000 residents. That award went to West Kilbride, to whom Huntly sends its congratulations.

Speaking at the award ceremony, Claudia Zeiske, director of Deveron Arts says: "This award is great news for the people who live here and for the wider community. The special award recognises our diverse cultural activities and the location of Huntly where the town is the venue."

The award brings with it £40,000 to further develop Huntly's cultural programme. 

Huntly has developed strong links with the international creative community across the globe through its trailblazing town is the venue programme. This involves people from all ages and backgrounds in projects spanning traditional, contemporary and classical cultural activities. Next, Huntly wants to expand its Room to Roam programme by developing new collaborations, including a signature menu for the town.

For more information visit:

www.deveron-arts.com 

www.creativescotland.com/news/2012-creative-place-award-winners-announced-24012012

The Creative Place Awards aim to celebrate the value of creativity to the social and economic wellbeing of smaller communities across Scotland, and to reward the hard work and imagination of such places. Nominees were chosen for the wide involvement of the whole community, as well as the creativity of their existing plans.

The Creative Place Awards are part of the Year of Creative Scotland 2012, a year-long celebration of our nation’s cultural and creative strengths which begins this Hogmanay. Through an exciting programme celebrating our world-class events, festivals, culture and heritage, the year puts Scotland’s creativity in the global spotlight with a focus on cultural tourism and developing our creative sector and the events industry. The awards are funded by Creative Scotland and the National Lottery. The awards are also part of the Year of Creative Scotland activity, and are supported by both EventScotland and the Herald.

Andrew Dixon, Chief Executive, Creative Scotland said: “The Year of Creative Scotland 2012 is a unique opportunity to celebrate the huge strength of Scotland as a creative nation. Scotland’s talent reaches into every home and in the next year will play out on an international stage.”