The Burton at Bideford has been chosen as one of the three cultural organisations for the South West to be included in the regional showcase of the 2020 Achates Philanthropy Prize! The Achates Philanthropy Prize is the national campaign to promote support of the arts. The reimagined 2020 Prize focuses on the myriad of inspiring ways in which cultural organisations have worked with their communities and how their communities have responded to this work during an extraordinary year.
The Regional Showcase has been selected from a long list of 121 nominations, researched and developed by Achates Philanthropy Prize Ambassadors. The regional showcase will include three nominations from the South West which include The Burton at Bideford, Kneehigh Theatre and The Royal Albert Memorial Museum and Art Gallery.
The Burton were nominated for their Seeds of Hope project which ran online during the start of lockdown. Seeds of Hope was created to help spread hope, joy and optimism during difficult times. Launched on the Burton’s social media pages, the community centre asked the public to share paintings, drawings, photographs, films or words that inspire them with optimism, and in return, the Burton sent each participant some “seeds of hope” (specifically sunflowers and geraniums). The project received over 100 submissions and social content directly engaged over 1000 people online.
A 19-strong panel of judges will now review the Regional Showcase and curate a National Showcase featuring eight cultural organisations – one from each region – to be announced at a special online ceremony presented in partnership with HOME on Thursday 12 November.
Ian Danby, Director of the Burton at Bideford says
“We are proud to be recognised for our lockdown activities, for us as an organisation and for visitors, it was and remains a challenging time. Seeds of Hope was about the value the arts have in our wellbeing and the creativity of our audiences across the South West.”
