Nominating for the IA Awards for Excellence
In 2011 the entry process is similar to that in 2010, and simpler than in previous years. This will allow a wider range of projects to be entered.
Guidelines and information about nominating can be downloaded here.
Download the entry form here. The entry form includes your contact details and basic information about the project. These details will be kept confidential.
To submit your entry, click here.
Entries close 5 August, 2011.
You are required to answer just 4 questions as they relate specifically to your project. In addition, you must also ‘walk the judges through’ your project so they can experience it in the same way that a visitor might. For example, in the case of a display or exhibition, you could provide a floorplan and legible images of graphic panels in the order they would be experienced by a visitor; for ‘live’ interpretive projects you could provide a script and/or AVI of a typical guided tour.
To enter the IA Awards:
- Complete the Entry Form with your project details. This form can be downloaded here.
- Complete your Project Submission (see ‘How to Enter’)
- Submit your Entry Form and Project Submission electronically on the IA website before the closing date and pay your entry fee. Click here to go to the Awards Submission page.
Entry fee
An entry fee is payable to Interpretation Australia at the time your entry is submitted. You can pay via EFT when you upload your entry (using your Project Title as your payment reference). Alternatively, payment may be made by credit card by phoning or faxing the Executive Officer (phone 08 7127 8425 or fax 08 8121 8539). Cheques should be posted to Interpretation Australia, PO Box 180, Aldgate SA 5154 before 5 Augus, 2011. Information about the fee payable is available in the guidelines which can be downloaded here. Please note that payment must be received by 5 August for your entry to be eligible.
Multiple entries
You are encouraged to submit as many entries as you like in either or both categories. However, each entry must be accompanied by a separate Entry Form and appropriate entry fee. Single projects that fit several different areas (e.g. multimedia and training) need only be entered once. Awards are judged in the two categories according to project value, not by project area.
Conditions of entry
As a condition of entry, you give permission for your Project Submission (as specified in the ‘How to Enter’ guidelines) to be uploaded to the IA website. The details on your Entry Form will not be published.
The IA Awards Judging Committee reserves the right to confer awards and prizes in each category entirely at its discretion and is under no obligation to confer an award or prize if the standard of entries does not meet the judging criteria.
How to enter
Download a copy of this information here.
Your entry will be made up of two parts:
PART A - this is a Project Submission in which you answer 4 questions
PART B - you must provide ‘back-up’ material that allows the judges to ‘experience’ your project
PART A - Project Submission
You must answer these three questions:
- What is your project?
- How does it demonstrate excellence and best practice in heritage interpretation?
- Identify the resources needed for your projects (e.g. staff, materials, money). Demonstrate how you used these resources effectively.
- How has your project met clear and measurable outcomes for your client/organisation and stakeholders?
When answering the questions remember that the judges don’t want to be bored. So don’t be afraid to show your passion for your project. Write in plain English and use the principles of heritage interpretation to engage the judges and to persuade them that your project deserves an award!
Your submission must comply with each aspect of the following guidelines. If it varies from these guidelines in any way you will lose valuable points which, in a close competition, may be the difference between winning and not winning an award.
Your Project Submission must be presented as follows:
- it must be no longer than 6 x A4 pages plus a cover sheet
- it must be set in 10 point Arial (in sentence case) with single line spacing so make sure your layout matches these specifications if you are not using Word
- you must write the question you are answering in bold and then write your answer underneath (you don’t need to start a new page for each question)
- you may include photos, diagrams, tables and maps but make sure you answer the question as fully as possible
- avoid duplicating in text any information contained within a table or diagram
- you must submit your entry electronically before the closing date using the upload facility on this page. If submitting electronically is not possible you may submit your entry as 5 separate hard copies but you must notify the IA Awards Convenor before 29 July 2011 that you are doing so and your entry must arrive at the IA Awards Convenor’s office before the closing date.
PART B - Back-up Material
You must also ‘walk the judges through’ your project so they can experience it in the same way that a visitor might. For example, in the case of a display or exhibition, you could provide a floorplan and legible images of graphic panels in the order they would be experienced by a visitor; for ‘live’ interpretive projects you could provide a script and/or short AVI of a typical guided tour. This material should be clearly identified with your Project Title and submitted electronically with your Project Submission.
To submit your entry, click here.