A Nottingham theatre project is appealing for local votes as it strives for nationwide acclaim on BBC One in this year’s
National Lottery Awards.
Inside Out of Mind fought off tough competition from 620 organisations to reach the public voting stage in this year’s National Lottery Awards — the annual search for the UK’s favourite Lottery-funded projects.
The project is competing against six others to be crowned the winner of the Arts category, which is being presented in association with Woman’s Weekly. Winners of the seven National Lottery Awards categories will get a £2,000 cash prize, an iconic National Lottery Awards trophy and attend a star-studded Awards ceremony, broadcast on BBC One in September.
Inside Out of Mind is an immersive theatre experience that shows the reality of living and working with dementia and the impact on carers — those employed in health care as well as friends and family.
Run by
Nottingham Lakeside Arts, The University of Nottingham’s public arts centre, and
Meeting Ground Theatre Company, and written and directed by local artist Tanya Myers, the production was performed in the city as well as five other theatres around England. More than half of the 7,000 people who saw one of the performances were employed in health care.
Shona Powell, Director of Nottingham Lakeside Arts, says winning the prestigious National Lottery Award and having their work showcased on national television would be an honour for everyone involved. It would also help provide recognition for the thousands of carers around the country:
“We’re delighted to have reached the finals of The National Lottery Awards. Lottery money has really helped us to take our work to the people whose lives it touches most. It’s easy to vote, and a vote for Inside Out of Mind isn’t just a vote for the play, it’s a vote for every carer of someone with dementia — NHS or care worker, family member or friend. They are the real heroes.”
Woman’s Weekly is featuring the work of the arts category finalists in the magazine and encouraging readers to vote for their favourite project. Editor, Diane Kenwood, was on the judging panel that shortlisted the finalists:
“The wonderful work being done by The National Lottery Awards finalists is really impressive and inspiring. The community spirit, compassion and dedication deserve to be celebrated nationally.”
“It is really important for people to show their support for their local project so it can get the national recognition it deserves. National Lottery players should be delighted that £34 million of Lottery funding is raised every week for projects like this across the UK.”
To vote for Inside Out of Mind please go to
www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk/awards or telephone 0844 836 9708 and follow the campaign on twitter: #NLAwards.
Voting runs for five weeks from 9am on Wednesday 24 June until midnight on Wednesday 29 July.
There are seven projects competing for votes in each of seven categories, reflecting the main areas of National Lottery funding: arts, sport, heritage, health, environment, education and voluntary/charity.
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Notes to editors: The University of Nottingham has 43,000 students and is ‘the nearest Britain has to a truly global university, with campuses in China and Malaysia modelled on a headquarters that is among the most attractive in Britain’ (Times Good University Guide 2014). It is also one of the most popular universities in the UK among graduate employers and the winner of ‘Research Project of the Year’ at the THE Awards 2014. It is ranked in the world’s top one per cent of universities by the QS World University Rankings, and 8th in the UK by research power according to REF 2014.
The University of Nottingham in Malaysia (UNMC) is holding events throughout 2015 to celebrate 15 years as a pioneer of transnational education. Based in Semenyih, UNMC was established as the UK's first overseas campus in Malaysia and one of the first world-wide.
Impact: The Nottingham Campaign, its biggest-ever fundraising campaign, is delivering the University’s vision to change lives, tackle global issues and shape the future. More news…
Telephone voting calls cost 5p max (a connection charge may be applied by some networks. Please check with your provider.)
All voting will be independently adjudicated and verified by Electoral Reform Services
Inside Out of Mind received £186,000 of National Lottery funding through Arts Council England.
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