February 24, 2016
And this year’s winner is…
Voluntary arts activity is almost certainly the largest and most varied part of the community sector. And once a year they celebrate all that is good about the cultural life of our communities by handing out some gongs aka the EPIC Awards. The Scottish shortlist is, as ever, an eye opener. From an alternative nativity production inspired by the refugee crisis, to an urban youth theatre company that performs in any space they can find, to a craft group in the most diverse community in Scotland (52 languages spoken) with a passion for upcycling clothing, they all need your votes.
From small island communities to big cities, from knitters to singers – our Epic Awards shotlist is a wonderful reflection of the voluntary arts in Scotland.
We’ve spent many hours reading through all the wonderful applications we received, and making some tough decisions in order to draw up a shortlist of eight groups.
Now it’s your turn – who will get your vote in the People’s Choice Award? It’s time to meet the Epic Award Scotland shortlist . . .
Epic Awards Scotland Shortlist
alter:nativity – Group of rural Aberdeenshire villagers who staged an alternative nativity inspired by the present day refugee crisis.
Deeside Knitwits – Braemar craft group that brings together knitters of all ages, both locally and internationally, to create fundraising yarn bombing projects.
Guthan an Iar – Gaelic singing group from South Uist in the Outer Hebrides, which is keeping local song-poems alive through public performances.
Hidden Door Festival – Festival featuring music, theatre, film and visual art, run entirely by volunteers and held in formerly derelict places in Edinburgh.
Kilmarnock Railway Station Heritage Trust – Volunteers who turned disused platform rooms into a vibrant hub of historic and cultural activity.
Rusty Boat Theatre Company – Port Glasgow youth theatre group that plugged a gap in local provision and found unusual venues to perform in.
Sew La Tea Dough – Upcycling clothing group in Glasgow’s Govanhill area, that passes on skills, saves money and helps the environment.
Stramash Stornoway – Volunteer-run festival that gave musicians on the Isle of Lewis a much needed chance to perform and meet each other.