Dumfries-based multi-sensory storytelling group The Arts End of Somewhere, with the support of Scottish charity PAMIS (Promoting A More Inclusive Society), are celebrating the win of the international Amateo Award for 2021.
The Arts End of Somewhere joined the awards ceremony, hosted in Milan, online and were delighted to have won the award which comes with a 1000 euros prize fund.
PAMIS is the only charity that solely supports children, young people (CYP) and adults with profound and multiple learning disabilities (PMLD) and their families to lead healthy, valued and included lives. The Amateo Award celebrates excellence in the voluntary and amateur arts, meaning those activities led by the community for their own benefit. 59 nominations were made for arts-based projects across the globe with PAMIS and The Arts End of Somewhere selected amongst 4 other finalists based in the UK and Europe.
As the winner was announced, the Chairman of Amateo, Piet Roorda, representing LKCA,
Netherlands, shared the following views from the jury, ‘an extraordinary empowering project that understands deeply the need to be able to speak for themselves. The project clearly puts people with profound and multiple learning disabilities right in the centre as artists and co-creators in order to enact social change.’ Heather Molloy, PAMIS Programme Lead for inclusive culture in Dumfries and Galloway, is thrilled to have been able to support the group through their various projects and celebrated with them at their own awards ceremony commenting ‘I can’t believe it. All of the nominations were from such deserving projects. It just shows you how the arts can connect and support communities particularly through challenging times like we have had over the last 18 months. I am incredibly proud of this achievement and of my wonderful colleagues whose hard work and determination has been recognised in winning this award. The voices of the Arts End Of Somewhere and the families PAMIS supports have been heard at an international level and I could not be more thankful to Amateo for this honour.’
The multi-sensory storytelling and arts programme in Dumfries and Galloway is supported by The Holywood Trust, Creative Scotland, and Dumfries and Galloway Council.
