About
- How to register
- How to submit a project
- How to nominate an individual for the Brendan Hartnett Award
- Awards
- Award Divisions
- Prizes
- Conditions of Entry
How to register
The submission process is electronic and conducted exclusively through this website using your internet browser. Previously the submission process has been paper based or by email.
To submit a application you need to register for a user account to validate your identity.
Registrations for those with a NSW Government email account (ending in .nsw.gov.au). To validate your account you will get an email with an activation link. If this email doesn't arrive please check your junk or spam folder first, and then contact the LGSA for assistance.
How to submit a project
Once you have successfully created your user account and logged into the Cultural Awards website you will be presented with a members-only project submissions page which allows you to manage all your project based submissions. You can submit more than one project for consideration in the awards, however you can only submit projects for the council which you registered for.
The submission process is step based allowing you to return and work on it when convenient. You can login and logout safely and your work will be saved as you go.
What information do I need?
To be quickly listed on the publicly accessible submissions page you need to supply:
- Project name
- Project description min (min 20 to max 150 words)
- Relevant cultural officer's name and email
- One picture representing the project
- Once this information is supplied the general public will be able to view only these project details so that they can cast a vote in the People’s Choice Award
To finish your application the following information is needed on or before 29 February 2008. This information will be private only available to judges.
- Objectives (min 50 to max 500 words)
- Processes, activities and partners (min 50 to max 500 words)
- Stakeholders involvement (min 50 to max 500 words)
- Formal council commitment / relationship to management plan (min 50 to max 500 words)
- Project outcomes (min 50 to max 500 words)
- Accessibility considerations (min 50 to max 250 words)
- Budget and cost effectiveness (min 50 to max 150 words)
To support your application web links are encouraged, and you can also submit video and audio files, and additional photos. This optional support material will be available to all site visitors.
When is my project submission complete
Your user home page will track your application progress. On the closing date of 29 February 2008 we will collect all project submissions which are 100% complete and pass them onto the judges. Unfinished submission will be ineligible.
How to nominate an individual for the Brendan Hartnett Award
The nomination process for a Brendan Hartnett Award is very similar to the other cultural awards. You need to be a registered Cultural Awards website user. From the members-only staff nominations page you can nominate individuals for consideration.
The submission process is step based allowing you to return and work on it when convenient. You can login and logout safely and your work will be saved as you go.
Required nomination details
The following entry fields enable submission of a nomination for an individual.
- Name of council staff member being nominated
- Commitment to local cultural development (min 50 to max 500 words)
- Aboriginal cultural development (min 50 to max 500 words)
- Substantial body of work (min 50 to max 500 words)
- Innovative contributions (min 50 to max 500 words)
Nominations for the Brendan Hartnett award will not be published on the Cultural Awards prior to the presentation evening on 2 May 2008. Once the award is announced, the winner will be listed on the website along with the list of nominees.
When are my nominations complete
Your user home page will track your application progress. On the closing date of 29 February 2008 we will collect all project submissions which are 100% complete and pass them onto the judges. Unfinished submission will be ineligible.
Award categories
Accessible Arts
The Associations are delighted to partner with Accessible Arts Award to offer an Accessible Arts Award. All submissions will be considered for this Award, which recognises cultural activity accessible to people with a disability.
Aboriginal Cultural Development
Leadership by a Local Government in Aboriginal cultural planning processes and initiatives demonstrating Aboriginal control and participation and resulting in long term benefits for Aboriginal arts. Councils are encouraged to nominate their NAIDOC activities for this award.
Cultural Industries
Leadership by a Local Government in developing cultural industries within its community including leadership by a Local Government in developing and implementing filming initiatives that benefit the film industry and the local community. This award is offered once every three years, following this year, the next award will be in 2011.
Cultural Infrastructure
Development of a cultural facility meeting community cultural needs and representing local cultural identity in design elements. Sustainability and eco-friendly design is encouraged.
Integrated Cultural Policy Implementation
Leadership by a council in developing, implementing and evaluating strategic cultural planning, especially where integral to overall council strategic planning and demonstrating creative community engagement.
Library and Information Services
Leadership by a local or regional public library in any of the following areas: exemplary co-operation and networking, strategic planning, management or cultural programming.
Programs Projects and Partnerships
Leadership by a Local Government in developing, undertaking or commissioning cultural programs, projects and partnerships addressing community needs and assisting expression of community identity and facilitating community cohesiveness. Cross-border projects are encouraged.
The Brendan Hartnett Award
This award acknowledges pivotal cultural staff within councils. It is named after Brendan Hartnett, who left the Associations in 2004 after 28 years of service. Brendan played a vital role in supporting both the Associations and their members in increasing Local Government’s capacity to undertake cultural development activities, particularly throughout the 90s.
This award recognises distinguished efforts fostering and furthering community cultural development by an employee of Local Government. Employees must be nominated by their council. Only one award is given in this category.
Award Divisions
Accessible Arts, People’s Choice and Brendan Hartnett Awards are single awards. For the remainder, there are three divisions based on the council's population. These divisions are:
- Division A: Council population less than 20,000
- Division B: Council population between 20,000 and 60,000
- Division C: Council population over 60,000
Prizes
The Awards themselves are unique hand made works of art, commissioned with the Society of Arts And Crafts of NSW
Conditions of Entry
- Only NSW councils, or groups of councils, are eligible to enter
- Entries must address each of the entry application fields
- Entries will only be accepted online via this web site
- Application confirmation forms must be signed by the Council’s General Manager and mailed to the LGSA in order to formalise your application. A separate form should be completed for each award or staff nomination entered
- Projects can only be entered into one category
- The project nominated for the award must have been either wholly or partly undertaken during the 2007 calendar year. The staff nomination must have either wholly or partly undertaken cultural project work during the 2007 calendar year. The entry should focus only on that part of the project undertaken, or achievements made by the staff member, during the 2007 calendar year
- For the Brenden Hartnett award the nominee needs to have been employed by a council wholly or partly during the 2007 calendar year
- Where the application contains new technologies, applicants are advised to consider patent conditions prior to submitting the application
- The decision of the judging panel will be final and no correspondence will be entered into
- All material submitted on the website that is available for public viewing becomes the property of the Local Government and Shires Associations of NSW. The Associations reserve the right to use all entries received for publicity and educational purposes
- Entries close 29 February 2008
