Finalists
Announced for UK’s inaugural Pearl Awards
The finalists for the Pearl Awards, the
UK’s first ever awards created to recognise and celebrate the achievements of
the Chinese community in Britain are announced today (28 July, 2004). Awards will be made in a range of six
categories including the arts, media, sport, services to community, and
business enterprise and will be presented to the winners by actress Sarah Lam (2000
Acres of Sky and Brookside) at a prestigious awards ceremony at the
Café Royal in London on 22 September.
Finalists for
this year’s Pearl Awards include the Yellow Earth Theatre (for Creative
Endeavour); Phoenix Chinese News and Entertainment TV (for Media Excellence);
London Chinatown Chinese Association (for Business Enterprise); The Wai Yin
Chinese Women’s Society (for Services to the Community) and Save China’s Tigers
(for the Reverence for Life Award).
The three finalists in each of the six
Pearl Awards categories have been selected from a large number of nominations
sent in by individuals and organisations from around the country. The Pearl
Foundation, a social enterprise company which established the Pearl Awards, has
been very impressed by the standard of nominations they received. Mr William Ong, founder of The Pearl
Foundation is confident that the awards will make quite a difference to Chinese
communities in Britain:
William Ong says:
“We have had a tremendous response to the
Pearl Awards and we hope the awards will make a contribution to Chinese life in
Britain. At present when you compare Chinese profile to that of other ethnic
minorities such as African, Caribbean or South Asian, it remains very low. The
Pearl Awards hope to provide inspiring role models for the Chinese and bring
the efforts and achievements of certain individuals and organisations to the
notice of a wider public.”
The awards have drawn a lot of interest and
support from key sponsors and individuals. Lord Chan MBE of Oxton is the
first Chinese peer in the UK and patron of the awards. Sponsors include the BBC
and a diverse range of organisations from the World Society for the Protection
of Animals (WSPA) to Arts Council England’s decibel initiative.
Winners will be announced at the Pearl
Awards Ceremony in London on the afternoon of 22 September, 2004.
Pearl
Awards - Profiles of Finalists:
Category 1. Pearl Award for Creative Endeavour
Recognising achievements in the visual and performing arts
Sponsored by Arts Council England and decibel.
Finalists:
Yellow Earth Theatre was
founded by five East Asian performers in 1995.
The company produces work that explores universal themes from an East
Asian perspective, celebrating cultural diversity through an integration of
theatre skills from the East and the West.
The range of work covers new writing and the reinterpretation of
classics, with an emphasis on exploring the links between contemporary
experience and multicultural heritage. The company also runs educational
workshops, residencies and community projects as part of its outreach
programme.
The
Chinese Arts Centre was established in 1986 by a group of Chinese artists
frustrated at the lack of profile their work was receiving. It is now still the only centre in Britain
dedicated to the promotion of Chinese arts and culture. The Chinese Arts Centre works extensively
with Chinese artists to give them business skills and professional development,
and has been central in the establishment of other Chinese arts organisations
across the UK. The centre has developed
a network of international galleries and organisations promoting Chinese arts,
enabling artists to carry out international residencies, exhibit abroad, thus
breaking down any sense of cultural isolation.
Category 2. Pearl Award for Media Excellence
Recognising achievements in film, broadcasting, new media
and publishing
Sponsored by The Metropolitan Police
Finalists:
Pier Productions produced a programme,
‘The Shanghai Sailors’ broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in January 2004. The programme
tells the story of the search by the children of Chinese seaman who were forcibly
repatriated almost 60 years ago. The
programme highlighted a grave injustice done to the Chinese community in
Liverpool in the weeks after the end of the Second World War. Having served
bravely in the British Merchant Navy, Chinese seafarers by the thousand were
picked up off the streets, bundled into vans, and taken to ships waiting to
take them to China. Many left behind
wives and children who received no help or information about their loved ones
or compensation for their loss. In
telling the story, the programme cast light on the importance of the role
played by Chinese seafarers in the war, the injustice done in the repatriation,
and a boost to those people trying to trace their families in China.
Phoenix CNE TV is a free-to-air Chinese
language (Mandarin and Cantonese) TV channel, broadcasting 24 hours a day, 7
days a week. It has been integrated into
Europe’s major satellite network Sky digital, as well as British, French,
German and Dutch cable TV networks reaching hundreds of thousands of Chinese
households across 45 countries in Europe.
As well as providing high quality entertainment programmes, Phoenix
focuses on a range of informative and educational programmes. Phoenix has set up news reporting stations in
all major conurbations around Europe in order to ensure up–to-the-minute
news. PCNE TV has resisted turning into
a pay channel as the free-to-air policy will enable Chinese people all over Europe
to access the programmes regardless of their ability to pay.
The
Scotland-China Association (SCA) exists to foster friendship and understanding
between the people of Scotland and China.
It is a non-profit, non-sectarian and non-political organisation, run by
unpaid volunteers. Membership and the
committee includes British-Chinese and Scottish people of all ages.
Traditionally, Chinese Cinema has been considered as a body of films from
Taiwan, Hong Kong and Mainland China.
However, during the last 20 years, a new Chinese diaspora cinema has
appeared, with films made by expats, exiled Chinese people and 2nd
and 3rd generation Chinese filmmakers. In 2002, SCA managed to raise
enough funds to promote its first Overseas Chinese film festival, the first of
its kind in Scotland and the UK, featuring films, documentaries shorts and a
review of British Chinese Cinema. SCA
presented their second festival, Electric Shadows, in January and
February 2004. This season provided a rare opportunity to see a wealth of
Chinese films, some of which had never been released in the UK.
Finalists:
The London Chinatown Chinese Association is one of UK’s
oldest associations representing the Chinese business community. It was founded in 1978 with the objectives to
unite and coordinate businesses in Chinatown, and to represent their interests
at all levels of government. London’s
Chinatown has been transformed into a success story through the combined
efforts of Chinatown businesses, thanks to the Association’s vision and dogged
efforts. The Association persuaded
Westminster City Council to develop the area, in partnership with the local
businesses, the police, and the major landowner, Shaftsbury PLC. It has forged
business and social links beyond the UK.
Pine Court Housing Association, Merseyside
Pine Court Housing Association was founded in the early
1980s and provides good quality homes for the Chinese people of Merseyside.
Pine Court Housing noticed that there was a virtual absence of Chinese people
from the social rented housing sector and decided to provide bilingual services
so that Chinese people can access the same facilities available to the dominant
community. In order to stimulate
cultural tolerance and understanding, it sought to avoid single culture
geographic areas and set a lettings target of 50% to minorities on all Pine
Court Housing schemes. It is now a
medium sized Chinese business and one of two associations in the country where
all property meets the Decent Homes Standard.
‘Elements
of the East’ is the first complete Fengshui and Oriental Art retailer of its
kind in the West Midlands. Its owner,
Junita Hamblin, studied and researched ancient Chinese art and fengshui for 11
years before setting up the business. It
was awarded ‘Retailer of the year 2003’, to recognise its achievement in
bringing interest and understanding of Chinese culture to the British public,
and bringing different communities together.
Besides organising many promotional events, Elements of the East also
promotes Chinese culture through frequent appearances on radio and
newspapers.
Sponsored by the National Crime Squad
Finalists:
Chinese
Information Advice Centre, London
The
Chinese Information and Advice Centre (CIAC) is one of the longest established
voluntary organisations serving the UK Chinese community. It has been available to all people of
Chinese origin and has been a source of help, support and information to
thousands of disadvantaged people who would otherwise have nowhere to
turn. In particular, CIAC helps the most
vulnerable Chinese in this country, from refugees and asylum seekers to women
victims of domestic violence. CIAC is the first Chinese organisation to hold a
Legal Services Commission franchise.
This means that it is able to offer free legal advice and representation
on immigration, nationality, asylum, family and employment law to low-income
families and individuals. In addition to its direct service provision, CIAC
works closely with mainstream organisations to help them develop their services
to help cater for the needs of Chinese people.
Chinese
Arts Forum (CAF) was established in Newcastle in December 2001, a nd is
dedicated to promoting Chinese arts and culture in the North East of
England. During the last two years, CAF
has established partnerships with a number of mainstream arts organisations in
the North East. CAF is also committed to
working with Chinese artists and helping with their professional development.
CAF is a founder member of the recently launched North East Cultural Diversity
Arts Forum (NECDAF). At present CAF is working with the Chinese Centre (North of
England) for the celebration of the coming Moon Festival in
Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
Sponsored by Chinatown The Magazine
Finalists:
Wang Haijun had an impressive record as a Taiji competitor, having
won gold medals three times in the Chinese National Martial Arts
competition. He is also a grade one
coach, having gained his qualification in the Wuhan Sports Academy in China. Since coming to the UK he has worked
tirelessly to increase the standard of Taiji practice in this country and he is
currently mentoring groups throughout the UK, Ireland and the USA. In China, Taiji competitions regularly
attract thousands of young competitors to a single event. Wang Haijun has succeeded in training foreign
students to achieve gold medals in major competitions in mainland China – a
rare feat for people living outside China.
The
United Kingdom Chinese Table Tennis Association (UKCTTA) has been established
since March 2002 as a non-profit making voluntary organisation. It was founded
by a group of enthusiastic players with the aim of developing the sport in the
Chinese community. In the past two years,
UKCTTA has organised a range of events including organising and promoting
training centres for table tennis,and hosting championships at local and
national levels. In addition, UKCTTA is
working to facilitate Chinese youth developing healthy and constructive use of
time and to minimise barriers in terms of expense. On 29th August
UKCTTA will be holding the UK Chinese Championships for the second year.
Category 6. Special Category – The Reverence for Life
Award
Recognising commitment to the protection and welfare of animals in accordance with
humane principles.
Sponsored by World Society for Protection of Animals, WSPA
Finalists:
Dr. Henry
Lee, Brentwood Essex
In 1996,
Dr Lee persuaded most major Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)
importers/suppliers to form the Chinese Medicine Association of Suppliers
(CMAS), to accept a Code of Practice, a strict ethical and moral policy and
CITES regulations concerning endangered animals,that disown any process
involving cruelty to animals. CMAS
actively works to protect public safety by withdrawing toxic products like
aristolochia, endangered animal parts and heavy metals or products adulterated
with prescribed medicine which had been very prevalent. With the support of New Scotland Yard CMAS is
routing out any suppliers trading in endangered species.
Pei Feng first came to the UK from Taiwan to learn
English. She assists the Environment and
Animals Society of Taiwan, and also has been working in international animal
welfare for some years now, based in London.
She has been helping animal protection societies throughout Asia by
capacity building, expertise and grants.
She has also contributed enormously by bringing understanding of Asian
issues and culture to her organisation, enriching their knowledge of Asian
issues and the practicalities of carrying out animal protection activities in
the region. Pei Feng has also been a
brave and intrepid campaigner, carrying out undercover investigations and exposing
these fearlessly.
“Save China’s Tigers (SCT) – a UK, US and Hong Kong based
charity was founded in 2000 by Beijing born Ms. Li Quan. The foundation’s aim is to raise awareness of
the plight of the endangered Chinese tiger and to strive for its protection and
preservation through public education, introduction and experimentation of
advanced conservation models to China, and raising funds to support these
initiatives. SCT has formed a
partnership with Chinese government agencies. Following an innovative programme
of rewilding Chinese tigers in South Africa, those tigers that have
successfully regained hunting skills will be returned to a newly established
pilot reserve in China. The first
rewilded Chinese Tigers are expected to be reintroduced into the wild in China
in 2008 to coincide with the hosting of the Beijing Olympic Games.
Ends
1. Nominations were received from
across the country. Members of the public were able to nominate people and organisations
by filling out nomination forms that were in Chinatown - the magazine and on
the Pearl Awards web site.
2. Media requests for interviews
with finalists should be directed to Colman Getty PR.
3. The Pearl Awards are sponsored by: BBC, Business Link,
Arts Council England’s decibel initiative, HM Prison Service, Sun Lik Beer,
WSPA, National Crime Squad, Metropolitan Police, Mihan
4. The Pearl Awards also gratefully acknowledge the support
of:
Lord Chan of Oxton, Chinese for Labour, The Chinese
Conservative Club, The Liberal Democrat Party, Ben Chapman MP (Chairman of the
All-Party Parliamentary Group on China), City of Westminster, Chinese Community
Office, British Chinese Society
5. Patron of the Pearl Awards is Lord Michael Chan MBE of
Oxton
6. William Ong, founder of the Pearl Foundation and
the Pearl Awards is available for interview.
7. The Pearl Award, pronounced Bo Le in Mandarin Chinese, is
phonetically homonymous to the word ‘Pearl’.
Bo Le was a man who lived in the period of the Warring
States in Chinese history, who was famous for his ability to pick
out a thoroughbred from a herd of horses. It denotes the gift of wisdom to
pick the best from the masses. It is in keeping with our foundation
aim, which is to select and to award talented
Chinese. The association with Pearl also comes in the proverb "hui
yan si zhenzhu" meaning “It takes wise eyes to recognise a
precious pearl”.
For
further information please contact:
Georgina
Langdale or Hayley Booth at Colman Getty PR
Tel: 020 7631 2666 Email: firstname@colmangettypr.co.uk