Introduction from Arts Council England

Mar 25 2009 Mark Robinson, Arts Council England

A PERSON could become gloomy if they just listened to the doom-merchants who seem to fill our airwaves and newspaper columns at the moment.

You could find yourself thinking nothing of greatness can be achieved anymore. Or that celebrating success of any kind is somehow inappropriate and not-quite-the-done-thing.

I'm happy to confirm The Journal Culture Awards, which Arts Council England, North East are proud to support, says 'away!' to such counter-productive talk and is happy to celebrate the great art that's been made in North East England in the last year.

Helping people make great art, and encouraging everyone to enjoy it is what we're all about.

To do this we work in partnership with artists, arts organisations, local authorities, voluntary and amateur sector organisations and others. Often that includes investment, but it's also about being an advocate for the arts. We support the best art we can find – and the results can be seen in the quality of the short-listed events for these awards.

On this evidence, the North East's ambition is definitely not in recession – in fact, I'd go so far as to suggest that it will play a role in the recovery from recession.

Confident, imaginative, creative places, where people can feel fulfilled and challenged are going to be well-placed when the upturn comes. So enjoying these awards, and congratulating all involved is, be assured, an entirely strategic activity in beating the recession.