Nominations open for heritage awards

THE National Heritage Council (NHC) of South Africa is calling for nominations for its second annual Golden Shield Heritage Awards on 20 September 2013.

The awards programme aims to honour individuals, groups, communities and organisations that have made a selfless contribution to the preservation, interpretation and promotion of South Africa’s rich cultural heritage.

“The launch of the programme last year was very well received,” said NHC chief executive officer, Advocate Sonwabile Mancotywa.

“This is the first ever official platform in South Africa to acknowledge the extraordinary efforts made countrywide in the field of heritage. Through the awards, we aim to put culture and heritage firmly onto the development agenda, and encourage a more broad-based interest in this aspect of nation building,” Mancotywa added.

Residents (and heritage practitioners) are invited to submit nominations for the 2013 Golden Shield Heritage Awards.

Each nomination should be accompanied by a nomination form, which can be downloaded from the NHC website. Nominations close on Friday 6 September. A panel of experts will adjudicate the nominations to select the finalists and winners.

The Golden Shield Heritage Awards are awarded in categories such as, National Living Treasure, Local Government Commitment, Preferred Heritage Destination, Young Heritage Activist, Heritage Ambassador, Academic Excellence and Favourite World Heritage Site.

The nominees should have made a worthwhile contribution to the preservation and promotion of the country’s cultural and natural heritage, must still be active in the sector or must have left an indelible mark, and may be of any nationality.

Individuals, organizations, corporations, congregations, institutions and municipalities are all eligible for nomination, although they may not nominate themselves.

Visit www.nhc.org.za