Diva
members, Board, Funders and Friends gathered on 7 July for the 2009 DIVA
Voluntary Arts Awards at Treacy Hall, Wakefield. Winners
of Diva awards received individually crafted statuettes designed and made
by local artist Amanda Howes especially
for DIVA.
Following the awards and a buffet meal the guests were entertained by
members of Castleford Gilbert & Sullivan Society
The Susan Elsworth Award for the most Committed Committee Member is named in honour of Susan Elsworth who devoted many years to running Gawthorpe Brass '85. and sadly passed away in February 2008. This award is for a contribution over and above normal expectations and on Tuesday Evening Peter Box Leader of Wakefield MDC presented the award to Jean Whitwell from Castleford Gilbert & Sullivan Society for her invaluable support and advice over many years.
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Jean Whitwell with her DIVA Award for Most Committed Committee Member |
The Group of the Year Award For a Voluntary Arts Group making a significant difference to their local community went to Wakefield Jazz. Chris de Saram received the award from Helen Chant on behalf of the group. |
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The Young Arts Group of the Year Award for groups with members under the age of 21 who have made an outstanding contribution to Voluntary Arts in Wakefield went to the Octave Music Group and Rhianna Witton received the award from Helen Featherstone, Arts Council, England.
Helen
Featherstone, Arts Participation and Inclusion Officer from
Arts Council, England |
Sue Perry Head of Public Health and Partnerships NHS Wakefield. Sue recognised the value of Voluntary Arts and DIVA at a time when we really needed support. & Anna
Bowman, currently DIVA's vice chair and a member from
DIVA's inception, for her unfailing help and support a true champion
of Voluntary Arts! Unfortunately
neither was able to be with us at the Awards Evening. Nethertheless
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Marissa Wakefield (Far right) DIVA's Chief Executive welcomes Helen Chant , Publisher of Scene & Heard Magazine and Peter Box Leader of Wakefield MDC
Marissa ensuring the Evening is a success
Andy Simms from NHS Wakefield accepted Sue Perry's Roll of Honour Award on her behalf as she was unable to attend the Awards Ceremony.
Diva Voluntary Arts Awards 2008
DIVA AGM and Award Evening on 8 July 2008 at Treacy Hall, Wakefield Cathedral. Pictured below are the worthy recipients.
Award Winners 2008
Marissa Wakefield DIVA's Chief Executive(left) congratulates
the 2008 Award Winners
l
to r Marissa, Jim Morris (Parkside
Paint & Palette Group), Peter Savage (who received Junior Art Group
Award on behalf of echaos.) E Mullis (Carleton Theatre Group - Lifetime
Achievement Award) Derek Curtis - (Pontefract Methodist Church Art &
Pottery Group) - see below
The
2008 AGM and Voluntary Awards
were held at Treacy Hall, Wakefield Cathedral. Group and
individual members of DIVA were invited to attend the meeting and award
ceremony, enjoy a buffet meal and listen to music provided by Gawthorpe
Brass '85 (Young Section)
The First winner of the
Susan Elsworth Award for the most Committed Committee Member is Derek Curtis of Pontefract Methodist Art & Pottery Group. Derek won the award for his "energy, enthusiasm and tireless work on behalf of his group and voluntary arts in general".
Olivia Rowley, (above) despite her busy workload as a dedicated Cllr of
WMDC takes a keen interest in DIVA and was awarded the
2008 Roll of Honour Award which is in the gift of DIVA Staff.
Group of
the Year 2008
Parkside Paint
& Palette
Jim Morris (above)accepts
the Award on behalf of the group
Eleanor
Mullis (Pictured above) was presented with the
Diva Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of her sustained
effort and unfaltering commitment during sixty years with Carleton Theatre
Group.
Eleanor is an active member of the committee and still appears on stage!
A new category
of Award introduced in 2008 is the DIVA Young Group of The Year Award.
echaos
based in Ossett were the winners of the 2008 Young Group of 2008 Award
and this was accepted on their behalf by Peter Savage.
The 2008 Diva
Voluntary Arts Awards made a fitting completion to Marissa's first year
as
DIVA's Chief Executive.
She is
pictured above congratulating Jim of Parkside Paint & Palette on his
group's award. Parkside Paint & Palette are relatively new members
of DIVA but have already participated in the DIVA Paint and Picnic event
and displayed work in the DIVA Membership Exhibition of Visual Art in
Pontefract in April 2008.
Pictured above are the celebrating Award Winners of 2007but many others were nominated and even more individuals are working unobtrusively away to maintain voluntary arts in Wakefield.
The DIVA 2007 AWARD Winners (left to right)
Philip Clarkson (Castleford Young Musicians), Ralph Jaggar
(Castleford Young Musicians), Peter Savage (Elizabethans'
Amateur Operatic Society & DIVA's chair), Marjorie Stoker
( Castleford Choral Society and Castleford Gilbert & Sullivan
Society) Christine Dart (Crofton Art Group)
Mick Yates (Black Horse Poets)
Richard Haigh (Yorkshire Philharmonic Choir)
Josie Walsh, (Black Horse Poets)
..
Most committed Committee Member -
Left Richard Haigh of Yorkshire Philharmonic
received his award from Graham Riding WMDC
Right Individual supporting Voluntary Arts Award - Christine Dart of Crofton Art Club. received her award from Cllr Elaine Blezard
The 2007 Artistic Achievement Award went to
Josie Walsh of The Black Horse Poets (right)
Marissa Wakefield, DIVA's new Chief Executive said ........"This has been a tremendously successful event and illustrates the outstanding work carried out by DIVA over the last ten years. This evening has been a wonderful opportunity for DIVA to show how much we value the dedication and commitment of our voluntary members and the huge contribution they make towards improving arts and culture for everyone to enjoy in the Wakefield District. I am extremely proud to be the next Diva Chief Executive and to take DIVA forward into the next ten years".
are
Voluntary Arts Group of 2007
Ralph Jaggar & Philip Clarkson
accept their trophy from Cllr Clive Hudson Culture, Tourism & Sport Portfolio Holder.
Peter Savage of Elizabethans' Amateur Operatic Society
and Diva's Chair was presented
with an award by
Cllr Olivia Rowley in recognition
of his hard work and his name was placed upon the DIVA Roll of Honour
..
Cllrs. Clive Hudson & Elaine Blezzard (right) were among the
100 guests
who joined Diva at Waterton Hall Hotel to celebrate.
Marjorie Stoker of Castleford Gilbert & Sullivan Society and Mick Yates from Black Horse Poets are pictured below receiving their awards.
From left to right Ian Clayton (Writer and Broadcaster),Marjorie Stoker, Adele Poppleton Arts & Creative Economy Development Manager for Kirklees Council's Culture. Mick Yates
George
Nairn-Briggs
The Very Reverend The Dean of Wakefield Cathedral called into the DIVA
Office to oversee the Vote Counting Procedure. Over 1000 votes were cast
both online and by post.The names of the winners were sealed into the
Golden Envelopes and only revealed on the night when each winner received
a specially commissioned DIVA statuette made by local artist Amanda Howes.
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