An exciting new youth awards is coming to Chelmsford and nominations are already open. So, if you or someone you know is a budding young song writer, artist, or even an entrepreneur, sign up today for an award that could change your life.
The awards are part of the Knife Angel’s visit to the city, which is coming to Central Park in September. The huge sculpture is made from thousands of blunted blades and it’s visiting the city as part of its national education and anti-violence tour. This is the monument’s first appearance in Essex and #KnifeAngelChelmsford is being led by youth organisation Keep it 100 Essex.
Positive youth culture celebrated
Each location the Knife Angel travels to has its own special way of marking its stay and Chelmsford will be celebrating positive youth culture. Amnesties and education are all part of the wider Knife Angel programme, but this visit is all about empowering young people to make better choices long before they might even consider picking up a weapon.
Wide range of skills recognised
That’s why Keep it 100 Essex is starting a brand-new youth awards in the city with top industry support for the winners. The Keep It 100 Youth Awards 2021 will take place on Sunday September 26, and you can nominate right now on their website. There are plenty of categories to enter, from recognition for creative talent like DJs, beat makers and lyricists to awards for digital tech, and outstanding contribution to the city.
Categories:
- DJ
- Beat Maker
- Photographer
- Artist
- Digital Tech
- Film Producer
- Entrepreneur
- Lyricist
- Song Writer
- The Knife Angel Award for outstanding contribution
Top mentors lined up to support the winners
The awards won’t just recognise your emerging talent, they’ll also help the winners take their skills to the next level, with a year of business support and sessions with respected industry mentors. Drum and bass DJ Grooverider, acclaimed photographer Mauro Carraro, music producer Tony Byrne, and song writer and vocalist Joy Malcolm are just some of those already on board, with more announcements to come in the coming weeks. Winners will also be invited to become a member of the KI100 advisory board, and they’ll help shape future awards.
How to enter the KI100 Youth Awards
Entrants must be under 25 at the time of the event in September and live, work or study in Essex. If you’d like to put yourself or someone you know forward, just fill out this online form. In keeping with the aims of the Knife Angel’s visit, everyone entering must agree to become an anti-violence ambassador.
The awards are being held at the Civic Theatre with the support of Chelmsford City Theatres. Tickets will be going on sale soon, so keep an eye on the theatres’ website and sign up to their mailing list to find out the latest.
Keep our streets safer and become an anti-violence ambassador
Even if you don’t want to nominate yourself, you can still become an anti-violence ambassador. It’s simple to do and you don’t need to submit any personal information that would identify you, just your first name and the first part of your postcode. If you’d like to tell your friends you’ve signed up there’s a social media frame available here.
Find out more about the British Ironwork Centre’s Knife Angel and its aims on the British Ironwork Centre website. We’ll have more news about its arrival on 6 September soon.
Fantastic initiative that is deserved of support.
Dear Chelmsford Events Team,
I truly appreciate the idea of The Keep It 100 Youth Awards 2021 and I think it is laudable!
However, I think whilst there is an attempt to encourage the arts and business, it would be good if you included in the award category, a space for those youths in schools who excel in the sciences too?
We have just been through and are still in the pandemic, and I think we are aware of the roles that scientists involved in producing the vaccine and healthcare workers, including those in the NHS, contributed and are still contributing to helping through this.
We truly don’t want another pandemic but imagine a world where a pandemic hits and all the ‘youths’ or professionals have gone into the arts and business because in there they have found encouragement and appreciation; and there are hardly any scientists or healthcare professionals? This might seem a bit extreme, but I am trying to paint a picture here.
I think, added to what you have already, it would be good to also encourage young people to find career paths in the fields of sciences. This is just a feedback and suggestion for improvement. There might be other programmes you have in place addressing this already. Please forgive my ignorance if this is the case.
Good job with K100 and thanks for an opportunity to inspire young people positively.