The Leicestershire First Award for Achievement in Arts and Music has been presented to a university lecturer who created and directs an annual festival in Leicester which attracts more than 4,000 people to 50 events, many performed by internationally-recognised artists.
Tony Graves, a principal lecturer at De Montfort University, has won the £3,000 prize for his outstanding contribution to the arts in Leicestershire by running the ‘cultural eXchanges’ festival for its eight years to date.
Tony, who lives in Leicester, is donating his prize money to two good causes, with £1,500 going to the children’s wards at the Leicester Royal Infirmary (LRI) and £1,500 to the prostate cancer charity ProstAID. Tony himself was struck by prostate cancer and his son was treated at the LRI for a life-threatening illness – both Tony and his son are now in good health.
‘cultural eXchanges’, which takes place over five days in Leicester each March, is organised by 18 DMU arts management students, under Tony’s guidance. It regularly attracts interest from the national media, with 2009’s participants including Trevor Nelson, Bonnie Greer, Charles Dance and Billy Bragg. In 2008 the stars included the then Poet Laureate Andrew Motion, Booker Prize winning author Ben Okri and Turner Prize winning potter Grayson Perry. Many of the events are free to attend, and bring in thousands of people to the University from across Leicestershire and beyond.
Paul Kerryson, the creative director of Leicester’s new theatre Curve, was a judge for the Leicestershire First Award. Paul, who is presenting Tony with his award, said: “The Leicestershire First Award is a wonderful recognition of outstanding contribution of artistic endeavour and its sustained effect on the local community. The calibre of all the nominees was very high indeed and the worthy recipient is Tony Graves. The ‘cultural eXchanges’ festival is a truly inspiring and creative event with an enviable national and international status.”
Tony Graves said: “I’m delighted, and surprised, to have won the Leicestershire First Award. It is really encouraging that the festival is making a mark. Each year we seem to raise the bar with the artists we attract and the breadth of the audience which comes from beyond the University. Connecting with the communities of Leicestershire is a key aim, and we hope that as it grows it will have a bigger and bigger impact across the region. There have been many highlights over the years, moments when the atmosphere is electric and the audiences are so excited.”
Tony praised the two charities he is donating his prize money to: “When I suffered from prostate cancer ProstAID gave me really valuable advice and support. And the way it spreads understanding and awareness about the illness is very important. And the children’s ward at the LRI did an amazing job when my son was very ill, so this donation is in recognition of what all the staff did to get him back to full health.”
ProstAID trustee director Rob Banner said: “We are delighted to receive this money, which will be well used. We provide a prostate cancer specialist nurse at Leicester General Hospital and support and befriending, plus buy equipment, and we could not do these important services without the generosity and support of people such as Tony.”
Debbie Adlerstein, community and events fundraising manager at UHL NHS Trust, said: “Leicester Children’s Hospital is extremely grateful to Tony and to Leicestershire First for his kind donation, which will go towards the creation of new signs, graphics and a new brand to help children find their feet – and their way – when they first come to the hospital, which can be a daunting moment.”
Highly commended for the Leicestershire First Award for Achievement in Arts and Music were Ted Smith of Kibworth and Andrew Cartwright of Uppingham.
Ted Smith has been involved with the Kibworth Band, a traditional brass band, for decades and is praised for his “tireless” work to attract new players to ensure its future survival. He raised funding in 2005 for the formation of the Kibworth Centenary Youth Brass, and the band is thriving and plays at many events and concerts in Leicestershire.
Andrew Cartwright formed the Great Bowden Recital Trust in 2004 to compensate for a lack of state funding for music lessons for children. Andrew, the Trust’s chairman, brought international classical musicians to Great Bowden in Leicestershire to perform recitals, with money raised paying for lessons for children. In 2008 alone more than 800 young musicians attended the Trust’s workshops.
Leicestershire First is a charity launched in June 2008 at County Hall by Maurice and Vivien Thompson, to encourage and celebrate giving and good citizenship. Each year nine awards will be given to reward and promote the values of leadership, excellence and citizenship in the county. For each prize the money must be donated to Leicestershire charities.
Maurice Thompson said: “What Tony Graves has achieved is immensely important to the cultural wealth of Leicestershire. The way the festival creates opportunities for a wide variety of people to connect around the arts is inspirational.”
For details of how to nominate for future Leicestershire First Awards, call 0116 249 5330 or visit the website www.leicestershirefirst.org.uk