WHALE Artswon the Creative Regeneration Award at the 2019 Annual SURF Awards in Glasgow’s Grand Central Hotel yesterday, Thursday 5 December 2019.
They were shortlisted amongst Glasgow Baron, based in Govan and Inverness Creative Academy.
Speaking of their selection judging panel said they were impressed with the range of activities and creative opportunities available to the community at WHALE Arts. They were particularly impressed with long-running activities and events including Street Arts, Therapeutic Art Classes and Performance Classes.
The SURF Awards are delivered each year by SURF, a regeneration forum with member organisations across Scotland, in partnership with the Scottish Government. it aims to highlight, celebrate and share the achievements of initiatives that address physical, social and economic challenges in communities across Scotland.
Awards were split across five categories:
- Creative Regeneration
- Housing and Regeneration
- Community Led Regeneration
- Supporting Youth Employability
- Scotland’s Most Improved Place
Leah Black Chief Executive of WHALE Arts said:
We are honoured to receive this award. We will continue to work alongside our wonderful community in Wester Hailes to become creative agents for change. It is an exciting time working with local partners, City of Edinburgh Council and The Scottish Government on what might be the first Local Place Plan in Scotland, focusing on Wester Hailes and driving creative regeneration.
Aileen Campbell MSP, Scottish Government Cabinet Secretary for Local Government and Communities said:
These awards are a great platform for recognising and showcasing successful community regeneration. With each passing year the exceptional standard of applications and shortlisted projects is even higher. This year’s shortlist demonstrates what is possible when communities are empowered to work hard, meet challenges and develop projects to shape their own futures.
WHALE Arts is a social enterprise and charity launched in 1992 as Wester Hailes’ community centre for Arts, Leisure and Education. In 2000 the WHALE Arts centre opened and includes an arts workshop, performance space, community kitchen, creché and board room that local community groups and organisations use. Local artist practitioners support and lead art programmes with partner organisations including Edinburgh Art Festival and local residents in Wester Hailes.
For more information about current projects at WHALE Arts contact: info@whalearts.co.uk or visit http://www.whalearts.co.uk
