"24-Hour Heroes"
Sky Arts announced the launch of "24-Hour Heroes" – a striking new portrait series shining a light on the people who keep the UK’s arts world alive around the clock, ahead of the Sky Arts Awards at The Roundhouse, London, on 16th September. The series celebrates 24 unsung arts workers – from stage managers unlocking doors at dawn to cleaners and book editors working into the night, revealing the huge range of roles that keep creativity thriving.
Across 24 hours on launch day, 27th August, Sky Arts will reveal the portraits on Instagram – taken by photographers across the UK including Ricky Darko, Julie Broadfoot and Simon Murrell – before exhibiting the full collection at The Roundhouse during the Awards.
The series features stage managers, bar staff, cleaners, archive curators, book award judges, literary agents, directors, costume designers, wig makers, photographers, and even a canine wellbeing officer, Jelly Bean, the Jack Russell and Pomeranian mix, from the National Theatre of Scotland.
Those photographed hail from across the UK and represent a wide array of organisations, including Soho Theatre, National Theatre Scotland, Youth Music, Brudenell Social Club in Leeds, Scottish Opera, Art UK, London Film School, Leeds City Council, Royal Theatre in London and Billy & Andy’s Music School in Manchester.
Phil Edgar-Jones, Director of Sky Arts, highlighted the importance of the people portrayed: 'Too often, attention goes only to those on stage or in front of the camera, but the truth is, the arts are powered 24/7 by an army of extraordinary people working tirelessly behind the scenes to keep the UK arts world thriving. We want to champion the unsung Arts Heroes with the Arts Hero Award – the riggers, engineers, drivers, mentors and many more – and remind the public that the arts really are for everyone," commented.
The series marks the opening of nominations for the "Arts Hero Award" as part of the Sky Arts Awards in September – the only awards to celebrate the arts across the UK in its entirety, including recognising the contributions of all those behind the scenes who keep the UK’s arts sector running. Members of the public and arts organisations are invited to nominate their own Arts Heroes hereby 4th September.
The Sky Arts Awards takes place on 16th September at The Roundhouse, London and celebrates the best of British and Irish culture across comedy, dance, film, and literature to opera, visual art and theatre.