During the conference, the Rural Touring Awards ceremony will take place (3 July) with nominations in three categories from Wales.
Since 1997 the NRTF has supported Rural Touring Schemes, promoters, artists and communities to bring high quality & professional creative experiences to rural venues & audiences. It does this via UK-wide projects, networking, development & showcasing opportunities, grants and information sharing.
During the conference an award ceremony - for the Rural Touring Awards - will take place. This year there are nominations in three categories from Wales. The nominees are:
Sam Pullen, Aberdyfi – nominated in the Young Person of the Year category, whose nominator said of him:
“Since 2017, when he was just 13, he has been helping out at all the Night Out shows we have had at Neuadd Dyfi. When I say help, I really mean help! He helps with the get-in and the get-out, rigging lights, setting chairs and clearing away at the end. If there is nothing to do, he finds something. If it’s raining you will find him outside welcoming members of the audience with an umbrella.”
Gaynor Morgan Rees and Gwyneth Kensler from Denbigh – nominated in the Voluntary Promoter or Voluntary Promoting Group of the Year. They have been nominated by Night Out Wales for their promotion and commitment to Theatr Twm o’r Nant, Denbigh since 1984. Night Out said of them:
“For over twenty years the formidable double-act of Gaynor Morgan Rees and Gwyneth Kensler from Theatr Twm o’r Nant have booked performances through the Night Out scheme in both English and Welsh. In the last four years they have promoted 36 shows and we anticipate many more to come.”
Theatr Bara Caws, Caernarfon – nominated for a special award and whose nominator said of the company:
"Theatr Bara Caws is a community theatre company who present original, relevant work to the widest possible cross-section of people, offering theatrical experiences of the highest quality, bringing entertainment and excitement, ingenuity and relevance to the hearts of communities in Wales"
Responding to the nomination, Theatr Bara Caws said:
“We are delighted to have been nominated and shortlisted for the National Rural Touring Awards 2019. It’s wonderful to know that our work continues to be appreciated throughout Wales, and we feel passionately that we must continue to strive with our mission of presenting a high quality diverse artistic programme at the very hearts of our communities. Recognition such as this nomination is greatly appreciated - thank you.”
Commenting today, Pete Gregory, Head of the Arts Council of Wales’ Night Out Scheme said:
“With this year’s NRTF conference being held in Gwynedd, it is great that so many nominations have been received from Wales for the prestigious National Rural Touring Awards.
“All those nominated undertake wonderful work and contribute hugely to bringing high quality entertainment to rural Wales. Those of us who operate the Night Out Scheme are very aware of the key role of volunteers in communities the length and breadth of the nation, so it’s great to see some of them at least being recognised with these nominations.”