Arts Connect film nominated for Royal Television Society Award
A film commissioned by West Midlands-based organisation Arts Connect has been nominated for a Royal Television Society Award (Central).
The film, The Past is Now, was made last year as young people (aged 11-23 years) took part in a free residential course of the same name. The Arts Connect project, managed by Work In Progress, focused on children and young people having a say in arts, heritage and culture.
The film explores the journey of the group as they become cultural leaders – providing their insights and reflections on what heritage venues offer and how that could be improved. Using a range of artistic practices, young people work across a number of heritage sites and historic houses bringing to life elements which they feel will make the venues more accessible and relevant to other young people.
The Past is Now has been nominated in the Diversity category of the Royal Television Society Midlands awards, which will take place next week on November 12th. The criteria for inclusion in the category are ‘for a programme which has shown expertise and contains outstanding coverage of a diversity issue or event during the year’.
Directed and Edited by Rebecca Hardy, Arts Connect’s Film and Digital Programme Developer, The Past is Now was also filmed by Rebecca, along with Anthony Davies. Arts Connect’s Associate Director for Cultural Partnerships, Susan Goodwin, was Executive Producer.
Rebecca said:
“It is fantastic that The Past is Now has been nominated for such a prestigious award, particularly in a category where it stands alongside some other amazing pieces of work.
“The film not only evidences their journey but is also a manifesto for change for other historic houses and sites, demonstrating the benefits and rationale of engaging with young people and ensuring the past is not lost through connecting with young audiences now”.
Filmed last October at Ingestre Hall The Past is Now is the first Arts Connect-commissioned film to be nominated for an award. Funded by Arts Council England, Arts Connect is an initiative of the University of Wolverhampton, working with Birmingham Arts Partnership, that delivers the Bridge programme in the West Midlands and other activities that improve arts and cultural engagement of children and young people.
