Nominations open for the Ecclesiastical/Wexford Festival Opera Volunteer of the Year Award
Nominations now open for 2016
(Monday, 12 September 2016) Nominations are now open for the Ecclesiastical/ Wexford Festival Opera Volunteer of the Year Award. Now in its fifth year, this award seeks to recognise and highlight the extraordinary contribution and initiative of Wexford Festival Opera Volunteers, who not only founded this now world-renowned Festival, but are fundamental to its continued success. Anyone can nominate a Wexford Festival Opera Volunteer and we especially encourage our patrons to participate in the nominations. The 2016 recipient will be announced on Sunday, 23 October, prior to the first public dress rehearsal of Herculanum by Félicien David.
The more than 300 Wexford Festival Opera volunteers live locally, nationally and even internationally and encompass all ages, backgrounds and professions. They generously contribute their time and energy to various aspects of the Festival including front-of-house, bars, cloakroom, patron care, backstage, wardrobe, and artist transportation.
Nominees must have demonstrated an outstanding contribution to Wexford Festival Opera. This could have been either by their volunteering during the Festival itself or at any time throughout the year to enhance, promote, fundraise for and/or develop Wexford Festival Opera as an organisation and as an event. To submit a nomination, visit http://www.wexfordopera.com/about-us/volunteer-award. Nomination forms can also be picked up from the box-office at the National Opera House. The closing date for the submission of online and written nominations is Friday, 7 October.
Chairman of Wexford Festival Opera Ger Lawlor, a long-time volunteer himself said, “We’re delighted to welcome Ecclesiastical again as the sponsor of our Wexford Festival Volunteer of the year award for 2016. For the past 65 years, the people of Wexford and beyond have offered their services as their way of supporting our unique and most loved of all opera festivals, recognised as one of the top three in the world. Ecclesiastical is a firm which supports communities and projects which enhance the qualities of people’s lives, and their recognition and support for all of those who volunteer for the festival is a terrific endorsement of the Wexford experience and the contribution of the Festival to the town and county. I would encourage our volunteers, patrons and the people of Wexford to nominate their preferred choice for this unique award.”
Ecclesiastical Insurance, proud sponsor of the award, is Ireland’s leading specialist insurance company serving the education, faith, heritage and charity sectors, providing insurance and services for those who care about their communities and the environment in which they live and work. Ecclesiastical Insurance is a company that donates a significant proportion of its profits to charity, so it is fitting that they are associated with the award.
The 65th Wexford Festival Opera is supported by grants from the Arts Council, Fáilte Ireland, and Wexford County Council.