British Inspiration Awards to honour UK creative sectors
Cross-party support for event; Nintendo's Yarnton to lead exec committee; Games Aid charity a beneficiary
Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Conservative leader David Cameron and Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg are lending cross-party support to the British Inspiration Awards, a new initiative to honour the UK's creative sectors, including games, film and the arts.
The executive committee for the awards is being led by Nintendo's David Yarnton, and it will also be a charity-facing event with 100 per cent of proceeds split between Games Aid and The Dallaglio Foundation.
"I am enormously proud of the talented people in this country who, through their creative and entrepreneurial gifts, illuminate their lives and enrich ours. And the British Inspiration Awards is a great way of both recognising their endeavours and celebrating our achievements as a nation," said Brown in a statement.
Organisers said the awards have been created to recognise those who have contributed to the UK's economic, social and artistic development, and intend to honour the top creative, entrepreneurial and inspirational professionals.
"The political cross-party support is welcomed and is further evidence of the importance in which the sector is now held," commented Yarnton, UK MD of Nintendo. "Our view is that it is about time that the UK creative sector was recognised for its achievements. It has much to be proud of and we intend to bring together creative industries from across Great Britain and give recognition where it is due.
"We have received a tremendous reaction from across the UK as creative and media industries get behind us, share our vision for supporting charity whilst amplifying the messages of the great work for which this Nation has been responsible."
The award categories are Film, Television, Music, Fashion, Art, Design, Innovation Enterprise and Industry, Science and Technology, Interactive Entertainment and a Special Recognition award.
The event will take place on Friday April 23 at The Brewery in London. Partners include the Daily Mail, Express Newspapers, City AM, Fuller and Diageo.