IT’S official – the shortlist for the Sunday Herald’s Culture Awards, dubbed Scotland’s Oscars, can be unveiled today.
The awards, in association with Edinburgh Napier University and now in their second year, are to celebrate, reward and nurture huge pool of talent
across the Scottish arts and cultural scene. Among the big names up for awards are Ewan McGregor and Karen Gillan, below, Liz Lochhead, James McAvoy, Douglas Henshall, Martin Compston, Morven Christie, David Tennant, Ewen Bremner, Karine Polwart and Shirley Henderson.
Scottish Ballet, the Centre for Contemporary Arts, Celtic Connections, Aye Write literary festival and Scottish Opera are also nominated.  Last year’s winners included James McAvoy, Alan Cumming, prima ballerina Sophie Martin, Chvrches and Celtic Connections. Specialguests included Kate Dickie and Outlander’s
Sam Heughan.  There were more than 140 entries received across fifteen categories.
The Sunday Herald Culture Awards will be held on Thursday July 13, 2017, at Glasgow’s stylishart and music venue, SWG3.  One of the judges, Pauline Miller
Judd, Dean of the School of Arts and Creative Industries at Napier University – which sponsors the awards – said: “Congratulations to all the finalists in
this year’s awards. It is wonderful to see such a range of talent deservedly shortlisted.
It is exciting bein part of the judging process again this year and incredibly hard to whittle each category down to just one winner.”
EventScotland, part of VisitScotland’s Events Directorate, is sponsoring the Cultural Event of the Year category. Rhona
Corscadden, EventScotland senior events manager and also a Culture Awards judge, said: “Congratulations to all the finalists in this year’s Sunday Herald Scottish Culture Awards.  All the fantastic nominations really demonstrate the vibrant cultural scene in Scotland and we certainly had a tough job narrowing it down to the final nominees. I wish everyone who is up for an award the best of luck.”  Chris Cameron of awards sponsor Cameron Presentations said: “Cameron Presentations are very proud to be sponsoring this year’s awards and would like to congratulate all the finalists for their continued excellence and contribution to Scotland’s cultural landscape.”  Editor of the Sunday Herald, Neil Mackay, who is also chairman of the judges and novelist, said: “The wealth of talent in Scotland is truly incredible. We punch far above our weight when it comes to the arts. We are rewarding everyone from superstars to the folk in the backroom and behind the scenes. “I’d like to congratulate everyone who entered as just being nominated is a real recognition of your great talent. Good luck to all the
nominees on the night, and we look forward to hosting a great party like last year.”