The National Awards for Local Government are now open. The awards are an annual celebration of local government achievements in Australia. The National Awards highlight initiatives implemented by local governments that are innovative, make a difference to their local communities, display excellence, and have outcomes that are replicable across the country.
There are two categories in particular that may be relevant to your work in public libraries:
The Creativity and Culture category recognises local government initiatives which:
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- create opportunities to showcase the best of communities through arts and culture;
- embrace wellbeing and diversity, and encourage social inclusion through community participation in artistic activities; and/or
- leverage arts and culture to improve community sustainability and increase local economic opportunity.
Successful initiatives in this award category benefit communities by:
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- fostering opportunities for the enjoyment of the arts through broad community engagement;
- establishing local arts hubs for community arts, performances and exhibitions; and/or
- supporting arts initiatives that foster inclusion and skill development.
The Cohesive Communities category recognises local government initiatives which:
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- sustain and celebrate the cultural, linguistic and religious diversity of our society;
- foster a sense of belonging, identity and shared values and promote civic rights and responsibilities;
- develop accessible infrastructure to encourage participation in the local community and build community harmony; and/or
- celebrate the cultural, linguistic and religious diversity of the community and foster an inclusive and respectful community.
Successful initiatives in this award category benefit communities by:
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- creating communities that everyone can belong to, identify with and contribute to equally;
- increasing participation in local communities and building community harmony; and/or
- celebrating differences, talents, and fostering an inclusive and respectful community.
You can access the National Awards for Local Government 2024 – Information Pack or find out more on the website. There’s also a summary information flyer (though this doesn’t include the Cohesive Communities category — possible a graphic design mistake as there are 11 categories and only 10 infographics).
The awards are a great opportunity for advocacy and profile raising of the public library sector.