Sky launches the Sky Arts Awards to celebrate the best of British and Irish arts and culture

18 July 2024 - Press release

The only awards to celebrate all arts disciplines, including a category recognising the unsung Arts Heroes behind the scenes 

Four in 10 adults think the arts do not provide a 'viable' career.

84% of Brits aren't aware 3.5 million people have careers in the arts

There are over 650 different roles in the arts, but UK adults can only name nine

 

 

Sky is proud to announce the inaugural Sky Arts Awards, taking place on 17th September at The Roundhouse. The ceremony will celebrate the diverse and vibrant landscape of British and Irish arts and culture, rewarding excellence across all the arts, and will be broadcast live on Sky Arts and Freeview. Sky Arts has been free-to-air in the UK since 2020.

Building on the fantastic legacy of the South Bank Sky Arts Awards, the Sky Arts Awards is the only event in the world that recognises the full spectrum of artistic genres, including classical music, comedy, dance, film, literature, poetry, opera, popular music, television, theatre and visual art. Also unveiled today is a first of its kind 'Arts Hero' category, honouring the unsung heroes whose efforts behind-the-scenes are integral to the success of the arts industry. Sky Arts invites the nation to nominate and celebrate these extraordinary individuals.

People working in the arts will be invited to nominate their Arts Hero, with the winner welcomed on-stage at the star-studded ceremony in September to receive their award. Everyone put forward will be entered into a ballot to win a pair of tickets to the awards, in recognition of their contribution to the arts. 

Phil Edgar-Jones, Director of Sky Arts, said: "The arts are crucial to our society, our economy and our culture. But they have been devalued in recent years. The Sky Arts Awards showcases the remarkable contributions of individuals and organisations across the arts sector. We believe it's important to celebrate not only the performers and artists but also the countless unsung heroes: the people who run the box office, make the sets, light the stages, feed the crew, feed you, take your phone calls, all of whom work tirelessly to bring our cultural experiences to life and keep this economic powerhouse running."

But not everyone recognises the importance and scale of the arts industry. New research reveals that 84% of the UK population are unaware that some 3.5million people are employed within the arts in the UK. 

39% feel that a career in the arts is not viable, and UK adults can only name an average of nine job roles in the arts, despite there being over 650 across all arts disciplines. 

The Arts Hero Award is designed to help address this misconception, by showcasing the very best of these essential workers and highlighting the importance of every role within the arts ecosystem. 

 

Nominations for the Arts Hero Award are now open, with a closing date of midnight on Sunday 11^th August. To nominate someone deserving or to find out more about the Sky Arts Awards, visit skyartsawards.sky