Culture Awards 2009 Newcomer of the year finalists

Mar 15 2010 by Sam Wonfor, The Journal

WELCOME to the fourth in our series of columns which offers a spotlight on this year’s Culture Awards finalists.

The ceremony, which takes place on March 23 at the Gala Theatre Durham, will reward the best of what went on during 2009 when it comes to all things cultural.

Today, we shine a powerful torch on the three shortlisted finalists who make up the prestigious category of Newcomer of the Year.

First up is the founder of a new chamber music festival and cellist, Jonathan Bloxham. The 21-year-old, who grew up in Whickham, Gateshead, before his music studies took him to London, wanted to give something back to the region which had supported him on the road to a career as a classical musician.

And so the Northern Chords Festival was born and included three concerts featuring some of the young international musicians Jonathan was studying with.

It has returned for 2010 – with the added benefit of a Young Musician of the Year competition.

Sunderland-based performance artist Sophie Lisa Beresford is nominated for her work My Culture is Beautiful which brought her to wider attention in 2009.

The piece, which was shown in the Laing Art Gallery, Newcastle, used footage of Sophie dancing to Spanish Makina music, juxtaposing traditional ideas of culture with the artist’s own personal understanding of culture and its associated music, dance and fashion rituals.

Still in his 20s, Toby Martinez de las Rivas is a gifted Gateshead- dwelling poet, selected from a field of thousands in 2009 as one of four poets published and mentored by Faber and Faber. His first collection was published in summer 2009, and a national tour alongside his fellow Faber & Faber poets followed.

Carol Bell, head of culture and major events for Newcastle Gateshead Initiative, said: “Having championed and supported culture in Newcastle Gateshead and the wider North East for almost a decade, we are delighted to see emerging talent recognised and awarded for contributing to the eclectic and world-class cultural programme in the region.”

Full details of finalists and awards, www.journallive.co.uk/cultureawards