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Thursday 18 February 2016

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New award categories reflect changing heritage landscape

Entries are now open for the 2016 Canterbury Heritage Awards with brand new categories announced to reflect and celebrate Canterbury’s post-earthquake heritage landscape.

Christchurch Heritage Awards Charitable Trust Chair Dr Anna Crighton, a staunch heritage advocate who established the Trust explains; “the awards have evolved to better reflect the rapidly changing heritage landscape of Christchurch and Canterbury post-earthquakes. Buildings and spaces in the public realm, domestic dwellings and brand new builds for the future are all eligible to enter – encouragement for saving and restoring our historic heritage and character buildings identifies a vital aspect of where we have come from as a city and province.

“The popularity of these awards is reflected in the number of entries which continue to increase since the inaugural awards in 2010. We received over 70 entries in 2014 which shows that the devastating earthquakes have strengthened the resolve to treasure what heritage remains.”

The biennial Canterbury Heritage Awards recognise excellence in heritage retention and conservation, heritage tourism and future heritage within the public and private sector and promotes the values of best practice heritage retention and conservation to the wider community.

Dr Crighton said that the Awards offer promotional opportunities for organisations, companies and individuals; “entering the awards is a fantastic way for companies to promote their work to the heritage community and general public, along with offering an event for heritage enthusiasts to come together and celebrate our heritage.”

There are seven categories in 2016: Domestic – Saved and Restored, Future Heritage, Heritage Tourism, Outstanding Contribution to Heritage, Public Realm – Saved and Restored, Seismic and the Supreme Award for the overall winner. Previous supreme winners include Trinity Congregational Church and Christ’s College’s Harper and Julius Houses.

The Right Honourable Helen Clark, ONZ, currently head of the United Nations Development Programme, and former Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage continues as Patron of the Awards. The judging panel for 2016 is chaired by Dr Anna Crighton and includes Jenny May, Director of Heritage Management Services, Tim Nees Head of Engineering at University of Canterbury, Sheila Watson Heritage New Zealand General Manager, Southern Office and Grant Wilkinson Structural Engineer, Ruamoko Solutions. The Category Award Trophies and the Supreme Award Trophy are designed by prominent New Zealand sculptor Neil Dawson.

Entry forms are available to download at www.heritageawards.co.nz.Organisations and individuals are also encouraged to contact the Award Convenors to nominate heritage projects or organisations. Award entries close on 5 April and the 2016 Heritage Awards Ceremony will be held in the Great Hall, Christchurch Arts Centre on 9 June.

ENDS

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