The Arts Council of Northern Ireland has been awarded a Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) Gold ‘PRide Award’ for their ‘Keep our Arts Alive’ Campaign. The campaign, winning Gold in the ‘Public Affairs’ category, successfully secured a £7.55 million uplift for the Arts from the Northern Ireland National budget 2008-2011.
Pictured with their CIPR PRide Gold Award (Public Affairs) for the ‘Keep our Arts Alive’ Campaign is the Arts Council of Northern Ireland’s Communications Team: (L-R) Marlyn Beck, Matthew Hendry and Grainne McCann with Chris Johnston of MCE Public Relations Ltd and BBC NI presenter, Karen Patterson.
The annual CIPR award ceremony, held in the Europa Hotel, celebrates outstanding achievement in Public Relations and Communications both in the public and private sectors. The Arts Council faced tough competition from other leading PR and Advertising agencies working in this sector, but an imaginative and cost-effective use of public relations, advocacy, on-line marketing and support from the arts sector helped the Council achieve the top award.
Speaking at the event Roisín McDonough, Chief Executive of the Arts Council of Northern Ireland said, ‘To be recognised for the significance of the ‘Keep Our Arts Alive’ campaign is a tremendous boost to the whole arts sector. The campaign was extremely successful in achieving the funding uplift which was so urgently needed, and the brilliant support from the artists and arts organisations for the campaign illustrates the passion and enthusiasm this place has for the arts'.
The ‘Keep our Arts Alive’ campaign culminated in a large rally at Stomont on Monday 10th December 2007, where artists and arts organisations, carrying the tools of their arts professions, presented the Chair of the CAL Committee, Barry McElduff MLA, with a letter calling upon government to rethink the final budget settlement.
Connall McDevitt, Chair of CIPR Northern Ireland said: “To win a CIPR PRide Award is a tremendous achievement. This year’s winners really do have something to shout about, having faced the highest number of entries and stiffest competition ever. A CIPR PRide Award is a hallmark of professionalism and success, marking the best in our profession out from the crowd.”