An ambitious art project hosted in Liverpool is appealing for votes to be crowned National Lottery Project of the Year.
The World Reimagined beat off stiff competition from more than 1300 organisations to reach the public voting stage in this year’s National Lottery Awards, which celebrate the inspirational people and projects which do extraordinary things with the help of National Lottery funding.
There are 17 shortlisted finalists from across the UK, all of which will compete in a four-week public vote from 7th September to 7th October to be named the National Lottery Project of the Year. Winners will receive a £5,000 cash prize for their project and an iconic National Lottery Awards trophy.
UK-wide project The World Reimagined aims to transform how we understand the Transatlantic Trade of Enslaved Africans and its impact on all of us.
The World Reimagined sees 10 trails of globe sculptures spread across seven host cities – including Liverpool.
The globes were created by 100+ artists responding to the Journey of Discovery, which includes themes ranging from ‘Mother Africa’ and ‘The Reality of Being Enslaved’ to ‘Still We Rise’ and ‘Expanding Soul’. Their unique designs have been applied to a sculpture shape devised by renowned artist Yinka Shonibare CBE, who also gave the project its name.
The project was founded by singer, actor and TV personality Michelle Gayle and Dennis Marcus in the belief that if we are to create a future of racial justice, UK society must come together in dialogue around how we understand our history; how our past shapes the present and future; and how we can act for social change.
Michelle Gayle, Co-founder of the World Reimagined, said:
“We’re so proud to have been shortlisted as a finalist for Project of the Year in the 2022 National Lottery Awards.
“If we’re going to build a better future, we need to engage honestly with our past. The World Reimagined aims to help transform the way we think about the Transatlantic Trade in Enslaved Africans and invite everyone to join the conversation.
“The response we’ve had to this project shows people are more willing than ever to have difficult conversations about our history, so we can create a more just future, together.
“Thanks to National Lottery players, we’re working across seven cities to help bring this message to life.
So please, get voting to help The World Reimagined become the National Lottery’s 2022 Project of the Year.”
Jonathan Tuchner, from the National Lottery, added:
“We’re so pleased to have received so many nominations highlighting the excellent work that National Lottery-funded projects are doing up and down the UK. It’s no secret that times are tough, so it’s great to see so many people and projects dedicating so much time and energy into giving something back to their communities.
“It’s thanks to National Lottery players, who raise more than £30 million each week for good causes, that brilliant projects like these are possible.
“The World Reimagined are doing some incredible work in their local community and they thoroughly deserve to be in the finals of the National Lottery Awards Project of the Year 2022. With your support, they could be a winner.”
To vote for The World Reimagined, please go to lotterygoodcauses.org.uk/awards, or simply use the Twitter hashtag #NLAReImagined. Voting runs from 9am on 7th September until 5pm on 7th October.
