The Journal Culture Awards 2012

On April 22, The Journal Culture Awards 2012 will once again celebrate and recognise a year of excellence in North East arts and culture... inside the stunning confines of Durham Cathedral. Not only will this offer a breathtaking setting from which to bring the show, but it also enables the event to welcome hundreds of people to join in with the celebration. And yes, that does mean you.
As well as rewarding 15 individuals and events deemed to be the best in their given category for 2012, the organisers really want this year’s event to demonstrate the passion for arts and culture across the North East.
So we all want as many people as possible to bag tickets for the evening, to come and show their support and enjoy what we promise will be a show from out of the top drawer.
The Journal Culture Awards are about more than just telling the audience about the creative excellence we are lucky enough to have in the North East. There are also in-person examples.
Leading the charge will be Sunderland quartet The Futureheads who thrilled a sellout audience at Durham Cathedral last September with their a capella concert, and are nominated in the Best Event Durham category for this very performance.
Next up we have Mercury Prize-nominated folk outfit The Unthanks. The band, including Northumberland sisters Rachel and Becky Unthank, are known for melting vibrant story-telling with both the traditional and modern worlds of folk. They have been nominated in the Arts Council Award category for their far-reaching Songs From The Shipyards project, which traced the industry’s history from the 1900s to the present day, mixing archive film with music and songs. Safe to say, they are a treat.
Last but certainly not least on the music menu are a pair of legendary North East music makers from Lindisfarne. Founder member Ray Laidlaw and former lead singer Billy Mitchell, have put together a band and a show, The Lindisfarne Story, which promises to mix music from the band’s back catalogue with anecdotes and stories from a history spanning more than three decades. This show will be taking place at Newcastle City Hall on June 8 as part of the Festival of the North East but anyone who is at the Culture Awards will be getting an extended extract.
All very exciting, we think you’ll agree ... and that’s not even it. Breakdancing gurus Bad Taste Cru will be showcasing a new piece on the night, while there's also rumours of a reading from Live Theatre's new work which will premiere later in the year.
The event, produced in association with Arts Council England, will also serve as a flag-waving alert to the charms of the aforementioned Festival of the North East, which will run throughout June from Northumberland to Teesside.
Alison Clark-Jenkins, regional director, Arts Council England, says: “The Culture Awards celebrate the very best arts and culture in the North East – the people, the pride and the place. 2012 was an unprecedented year of celebration with excellent art and culture at the heart. This region is home to a community rich with artistic skill and passion and we are proud to see talent and artistic excellence continue to thrive and be celebrated.”
We can’t wait to see you there.
To buy tickets for The Journal Culture Awards 2012 at Durham Cathedral on April 22 2013, visit the website or call Ashleigh Smithson on 0191 201 6092.