As part of the BBC West Sports Awards, a Cultural Olympiad Champion Award was made for the first time to Helen Owen, arts development officer for Gloucestershire County Council, for Severn Project 2009.
‘I really was astonished but of course delighted to win - but it was not just me who won this award. The Severn Project was delivered by a large team who worked tremendously hard to make it a success, including the arts, library and archive teams here at the county council; our artistic directors, Desperate Men, the Roses Theatre in Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire Dance, and all the people in the creative groups who took part. And of course the project could not have happened without funding from the National Lottery through Arts Council England.’ Helen Owen, Arts Development Officer, Gloucestershire County Council
“We were delighted to fund the River Severn Project. Villages and towns along the River Severn were able to experience great art in different spaces and places, which we believe is a wonderful example of how communities can come together to enjoy and participate in performances and events."
Chris Humphrey, Executive Director, Arts Council England, South West

Severn Project media coverage from www.moosemarketingandpr.co.uk
Titles included: The Gloucester Citizen • The Cheltenham Echo • The Western Daily Press • The Stroud News and Journal • Stroud Life • Gloucester News • Cheltenham News • Tewksbury News • Tewksbury Journal • The Gloucestershire Independent series • The Forester • The Forest Review • The Ross-on-Wye Gazette • Cotswold Style • Cotswold Life • The Oracle • Glostonian • Cheltonian • Evesham Journal • Kidderminster Shuttle Series • Stourbridge News • Bristol Evening Post • Dudley News • County Express
BBC Radio • Gloucestershire Heart FM
BBC Points West
The Londoner
The Guardian • The Observer • The Times • The Daily Telegraph