CREATIVE Criccieth has been shortlisted for its work throughout the pandemic.

The group is one of 31 shortlisted for the 2021 Creative Lives Awards, shining a light on resilience and creativity during the pandemic.

A winner will be chosen from England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales, and all groups are looking for the public to vote for them to win the People’s Choice Award.

Criccieth Town Council responded to the challenges of the pandemic by building on its record of creative engagement and facilitating a number of imaginative projects which involved hundreds of volunteers in their design and delivery. Voluntary associations, primary school, individual artists and other creatives came together, drawing on talents from across the generations and from all over town.

Early 2020 saw an appeal for volunteers to “paint the town red” by knitting and crocheting poppies for VE Day. The response was overwhelming and inspired Susan Humphries to create a gown of poppies with 5,000 poppies made by over 150 volunteers used to make a train for the dress.

Criccieth town map was another lockdown project involving volunteers from town council and the Business Forum who prepared a unique, artistic, bilingual map via virtual meetings.

Two benches were refurbished under the Friendship Benches scheme, eight-year-old Llyr Emery of Ty’n Rhos came up with the idea of creating a rainbow of painted stones which now sit under Rainbow Bridge, and Criccieth in Bloom also demonstrated the community’s creative side with a number of projects throughout the town.

And in November 2020, town council received a £20,800 grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund and the Welsh Government to fund a community allotment and butterfly garden near the town centre.

Cllr Sian Williams, chair of Criccieth Town Council said: “We are delighted to be shortlisted for a Creative Lives Award in recognition of the many Creative Criccieth community projects.

“The pandemic imposed huge strains on communities and tested community organisations to the limit.

“Town council has a key role to play in making a difference in the life of our community. I am so proud we responded to the challenges imposed by Covid-19 with compassion, energy and vision.

“It is amazing to see the results which have become lasting legacies, marking an unprecedented time in our lives.”

Voting is now open for the People’s Choice Award. Visit www.creative-lives.org/2021-shortlist to read about the shortlisted projects and choose their favourite between now and 31 January, 2022.

Winners will be announced at the awards ceremony in Coventry in March, as part of the city’s UK City of Culture celebrations. Winners receive an award, framed certificate, cash prize and free access to all of Creative Lives’ future ‘Creative Learning’ online training sessions.