Cinema is recognised for Heritage Angel awards
Campbeltown Picture House and two other Argyll heritage projects have been shortlisted for the Scottish Heritage Angel Awards 2018, it was announced on Wednesday. Campbeltown Community Business Ltd has been shortlisted for the best rescue of a historic building or place (for projects over £2m) award, while Dunoon Burgh Hall Project has been shortlisted for the best rescue of a historic building or place (for projects under £2m) award. Donald McDougall, museum manager at Dunollie Castle in Oban, has also been shortlisted for the best contribution to a heritage project by a young person award. Launched in 2014 and funded by the Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation (ALWF), and run by the Scottish Civic Trust in partnership with Historic Environment Scotland (HES) and Archaeology Scotland, the Scottish Heritage Angel Awards celebrate both groups and individuals who have gone above and beyond in their efforts to promote, protect and, in many cases, rescue Scotland’s heritage. Dunoon Burgh Hall Project, Campbeltown Community Business Ltd and Donald McDougall will join the other finalists at the Scottish Heritage Angel Awards ceremony on Monday October 22 – taking place this year at Glasgow City Chambers – where the eventual winners will be crowned. Susan O’Connor, director of the Scottish Civic Trust, said: ‘I’d like to thank everyone who took time to submit a nomination for this year’s Scottish Heritage Angel Awards. ‘It really is inspiring to see such a diverse range of projects from all over Scotland come forward, I’m delighted we have this opportunity to recognise the passion, dedication and sheer hard-work invested by individuals and communities who work tirelessly to protect and promote our history and heritage.’ The panel of judges who will determine the winners includes representatives from the Heritage Lottery Fund and Young Scot, joined by a variety of well-seasoned experts in the heritage field. Alex Paterson, chief executive of Historic Environment Scotland, said: ‘I’d like to extend congratulations to all the finalists for this year’s Scottish Heritage Angel Awards. ‘The historic environment has a vital role to play in communities up and down the country, from helping to revitalise local areas through the reuse of historic buildings, to supporting and developing traditional crafts and skills. ‘This shortlist reflects the valuable work being undertaken all over the country to care for our historic environment, often by groups and individuals who volunteer their time. ‘During this Year of Young People, it is particularly heartening to see so many young people involved in heritage projects.’ The Scottish Heritage Angel Awards run parallel to Heritage Angel Awards in England, Northern Ireland and Wales. The ceremony in London in November will see an overall winner selected from the four award schemes. Campbeltown Community Business Ltd was shortlisted for the restoration project of the category A listed Campbeltown Picture House. The project has seen the historic cinema’s Art Noveau façade restored alongside upgraded state-of-the-art visitor facilities, as well as a programme of heritage activities hosted at the site. It will vie for the title against Falkirk Townscape Heritage Initiative (THI), which has helped to regenerate the area’s town centre, delivering grant-funding to 80 individual properties, restoring or improving 15 shop fronts and bringing eight empty units back in to use. The third finalist is Glasgow Building Preservation Trust, for the project to rescue and repurpose the significant category B listed former Parkhead School building. The site has been brought back in to use as office and community space, while community engagement activities have increased awareness of the building’s history and heritage in the local area.