Award for Outstanding Contribution

Theatre Porto in Ellesmere Port hosted the annual awards presented by Cheshire West Voluntary Arts Network on the evening of September 20th. The award for an Outstanding Contribution to Community and Voluntary Arts honoured all the volunteer promoters of Cheshire Rural Touring Arts.

Sue Hardacre from Tarvin and Pat Kynaston of Neston collected the award from the Cheshire High Sheriff, Jeannie France-Hayhurst, on behalf of the many volunteers throughout West (and East) Cheshire who work hard to bring professional performing arts to rural venues. Cheshire West Voluntary Arts Network were the sponsors of the evening.

Sue Hardacre said " I was delighted to stand in for Jane Grahame, our current promoter, who was unable to attend. I spent many happy years working with Cheshire Rural Touring Arts to help devise programmes, to visit shows and to bring events to the Community Centre. I was specially pleased to promote events suitable for young children and families and I am delighted that this is set to continue".

The arts sector was hard hit by the pandemic and small production companies and individual artists found it very hard to manage. The sector is recovering slowly as grants are being awarded and audience confidence returns. CRTA are confident that the programme for next year will be bigger and more comprehensive than ever.

The next CRTA show in Tarvin will be on Friday September 30th at 7.30pm, a comedy drama called The Killer Question. See comment on the production  here.  Tickets are £12 and are available at the Post Office, on the door or at www.ticketsource.co.uk/cheshireruraltouringarts

Sue said " I do hope you come along to support the Community Centre so that they can continue to be a lively centre for the arts in this area.

Ed: Click on photographs to enlarge.