Latest news with #CivicAwardsCommittee
Scotsman
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Woman who helped Edinburgh 'blaze a trail' to become world's first city of literature to receive award
Ali Bowden is to receive the Edinburgh Award Sign up to our Arts and Culture newsletter, get the latest news and reviews from our specialist arts writers Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... A woman who helped to 'blaze a trail' for Edinburgh as it became the world's first UNESCO City of Literature has been selected to receive the Edinburgh Award - following in the footsteps of musician Nicola Benedetti, rugby player Doddie Weir and businessman Sir Tom Farmer. Ali Bowden was director of the organisation from 2006 until last year, following a ten year career in publishing, Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The Edinburgh Award was established in 2007 to honour outstanding individuals who have made a positive impact on the city and gained national and international recognition for Edinburgh. Nominations are invited annually from Edinburgh citizens and the recipient is selected by the Civic Awards Committee. Previous recipients include bestselling authors, human rights activists and world-famous sportspeople. Over her time in the role, she helped to welcome new Cities of Literature as they joined, recruiting others from around the world in a bid to diversify the network. There are now 53 literary cities and more than 350 creative cities in seven artforms. Ali will be presented with an engraved Loving Cup from the Lord Provost and have her handprints set in stone at the City Chambers later this year. The Lord Provost of the City of Edinburgh, and Chair of the Civic Award Committee, Robert Aldridge said: 'Ali Bowden is a most deserved recipient of the Edinburgh Award, and I'm really pleased that she has accepted the Civic Awards Committee decision to present it to her. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'Edinburgh blazed a trail when it became the first UNESCO Creative City in 2004 and with Ali at the helm for almost 20 years it has continued to flourish in this position.' Ali Bowden is to receive the Edinburgh Award. | Scotsman He added: 'Not only has Ali gone above and beyond to create a diverse and engaging range of projects and programmes to enhance the literary city, she has played a key role in connecting Edinburgh with other literary cities around the world. 'I'd like to congratulate Ali on behalf of the city - we will all benefit from her legacy, which builds on the Capital's rich literary heritage while also bringing reading and literature to new and varied audiences.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Ms Bowden's work to promote and enhance Edinburgh as a literary city includes community-based writers' residencies, the first citywide reading campaign, and the award-winning Great Scott! installation in Waverley railway station honouring Sir Walter Scott. She was also behind the Stars & Stories trail of illuminated quotations celebrating 500 years of Edinburgh's publishing heritage, and an initiative with ETAG to promote literary tourism. After 18 years in the role, Ms Bowden stood down in September 2024 and has been replaced by Dr Harriet McMillan. Ms Bowden said: 'There's no doubt that Edinburgh has stolen my heart, and I've happily spent the last few decades banging the drum for this impressive, bookish, story-filled and ever-changing city. I am humbled, honoured and delighted - in equal measure - to be receiving the Edinburgh Award.
Edinburgh Reporter
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Edinburgh Reporter
Nominations remain open for The Edinburgh Award
Nominations are open until 16 May for members of the public to suggest people who they consider to be worthy of winning The Edinburgh Award. This is a prestigious honour given to people who have achieved outstanding success in their lives, whether it is as an unsung charity hero or a renowned artist or athlete. Previous winners include Mel Young, MBE, founder of The Homeless World Cup, who was presented with the Loving Cup last year. His handprints are cast in stone in the Quad at the City Chambers and his name on the honours roll inside, along with others who have made their mark on the city including Professor Peter Higgs, Nicola Benedetti, CBE, Ken Buchanan, MBE, Professor Sir Geoff Palmer and Sir Tom Farmer. The Rt Hon Lord Provost of the City of Edinburgh, Robert Aldridge, has asked for inominations. He said: 'Edinburgh's global influence over the last two centuries is thanks to the exceptional character, achievements, and excellence of our citizens. The Edinburgh Award gives us a chance to honour the individual whose work continues to make Edinburgh the extraordinary city we all know and love. I am continually inspired by the way Edinburgh's people support one another, and this award reflects that community spirit. 'We are now in the 19th edition of The Edinburgh Award, and I invite everyone to nominate someone who has truly made a difference to our city. Now is your chance to help identify the next individual to be celebrated with The Edinburgh Award 2025.' You can nominate someone for the Edinburgh Award if they were born in Edinburgh, have lived in the city for the past 12 months or has a substantial association with Edinburgh have not previously been awarded The Freedom of the City are not a previous winner of The Edinburgh Award are not a serving politician. The winner of the award will be chosen by the Civic Awards Committee after nominations close at noon on 16 May. Read more here before making a nomination. Sir Geoff Palmer who received the Edinburgh Award in 2022 © 2024 Martin McAdam Mel Young, MBE, and his wife Rona at the ceremony for The Edinburgh Award © 2024 Martin McAdam L-R Lady Anne Farmer, Sir Tom Farmer and the Rt Hon Lord Provost Donald Wilson at The Edinburgh Award 5 March 2016 PHOTO Martin McAdam Like this: Like Related
Scotsman
22-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Nominate your Edinburgh Award candidate
Nominations are now open for the 2025 Edinburgh Award – an honour that recognises those whose exceptional contributions have helped shape our capital and promote it on the national and global stage. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Since its launch in 2007, the Award has celebrated individuals from all walks of life: world-class athletes like Sir Chris Hoy, cultural icons such as Alexander McCall Smith and Nicola Benedetti; scientific pioneers including Professor Peter Higgs and tireless campaigners like Sir Geoff Palmer and Mel Young MBE. Last year's recipient Mel Young MBE with Lord Provost Robert Aldridge and the cast of his handprints at the City Chambers Last year's recipient, Mel Young, exemplifies the Edinburgh spirit. Through the Homeless World Cup—now active in 70 countries – Mel has improved the lives of over 100,000 people experiencing homelessness. His earlier work as co-founder of the Big Issue in Scotland and service as chair of Sport Scotland reflect the deep and lasting impact he's made on our city. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Now in its 19th year, the Edinburgh Award continues to showcase the values that define our capital: compassion, creativity, and commitment to the greater good. The handprints of each winner are immortalised outside the City Chambers. As Lord Provost Robert Aldridge said, the award is a chance to recognise the individuals who make Edinburgh the extraordinary place it is today. I encourage everyone to take part by nominating someone whose achievements deserve this civic recognition. Nominations are open until noon on Friday 16 May, following which we have four weeks to cast nominations for the 2025 award, before a recipient is selected by the Civic Awards Committee. Full details are available on the Council's website.
