The Council of Gorsedh Kernow has agreed a new format for their annual Awards which will take an even greater account of Cornish culture.

Announcing the new scheme, Grand Bard of Cornwall Merv Davey expressed his delight at the support the new scheme was already receiving.

’Bards of Gorsedh Kernow are as keen as anyone to move forward and embrace new media,’ said the Grand Bard, ’and we wanted to help make it easy for people to show their love for Cornish culture and help us maintain the Celtic spirit of Cornwall.’

The new scheme merges the former children’s and adults’ competitions with the long established Gorsedh Kernow Council awards, creating a new range of awards for adults and a separate range for young people under 18 years of age.  The new awards are designed to be more flexible and less prescriptive and allow for entrants to demonstrate creativity in a variety of ways, including the use of digital media.

’Awards will be given to entries that express the Celtic spirit of Cornwall and demonstrate exceptional endeavour or quality of work,’ said Merv Davey, ’and this work might be in the arts, sports, Cornish studies or community service.

’We actively encourage everyone, whatever their age and background, to express their creativity and interest in Cornish culture in whatever form they feel most comfortable with.

’Awards for young people will be considered in one of three age groups and there are plenty of examples on the awards information leaflet to get them started.’

The new Gorsedh Kernow Awards will be presented at a special event during the Esedhvos week prior to the Gorsedh ceremony at St Keverne in September. Award-winners’ work will be shown and displayed during the event, together with selected performances.