......and the winners are ....?

A couple of weeks ago two members of the Tarvin Community Centre Management Committee, Lyn and Peter Brunton, went to the awards ceremony at the Town Hall for the Cheshire West Voluntary Arts Network. Tarvin Community Centre had received one of 26 nominations, but this time, the winner's speech was not needed!

The Chester Voluntary Arts Network has been created to bring together organisations who create all kinds of artistic opportunities for individuals and communities. The network seeks to support, inspire and encourage all those who participate in making sure that the arts flourish in West Cheshire. You can find out more about them on www.cwvan.btck.co.uk

To be fair, the application for nomination sent in by the Community Centre was a bit cheeky. After all, we are not a choir, not a dance group, neither are we a theatre company. But, all these activities take place in the Community Centre and without such places and the support they give, such groups would find it difficult to function. We have our place with others in making the local arts scene flourish and local communities thrive.

The winners of the categories were:

Children and Youth Award – Action Transport Theatre Ellesmere Port

Performing Arts Award – Over by Christmas by Theatre in the Quarter

Music Award – Movers and Shakers Choir (a choir whose members have Parkinsons)

Visual Arts – WW1 Commemorative Exhibition by Cheshire Artists Network

Special Award – Chester Mystery Plays

Having seen the quality and diversity of the award winners, the 'cheeky' aspect of our application seems even more obvious! But we work on the principal of 'nothing ventured, nothing gained' and will continue to participate proudly in the local voluntary arts scene in the future.

The awards were presented by The Lord Mayor. Cllr Bob Rudd and the audience were entertained by the first public performance by the Chester Youth Symphony Orchestra and street dance group D.O.P.E.