Australasian Writers and Art Directors (AWARD) today announced that judging of the 2020 AWARD Awards will be postponed.
The decision to postpone was taken in light of developments in the COVID-19 crisis and means that judging of the Awards – and announcement of the winners – scheduled to have taken place at the end of this week will not go ahead.
Whilst AWARD had put in place the technology that would have allowed AWARD Awards judging to go ahead on schedule via online platforms, it is much more important that judges spend the time they need to concentrate on other priorities in the coming days and weeks, from both personal and business perspectives.
“We believe this is the right thing to do given the rapid deterioration in the COVID-19 crisis,” said AWARD Chair Cam Blackley (pictured).
“Our judges are better served if they can attend to their own personal circumstances rather than commit to the voluntary time needed to judge AWARD Awards. Now is the time to focus on more important issues like family. In short, AWARD will have to wait,” Blackley said.
He thanked all the judges for the hard work they had already put into the judging process, including selecting the AWARD Awards finalists.
“This work will not be wasted and we’re looking forward to them resuming their judging roles when we’re given the all-clear,” Blackley added.
AWARD will continue to take advice from the relevant government authorities and remains committed to fulfil its obligations towards AWARD Awards judging and will reschedule as soon as it feels right to do so which, hopefully, will be sometime before the end of May.
Earlier this month AWARD announced the cancellation of the 2020 AWARD Awards show as well as the postponement of the AWARD 40th Celebration and Creative Festival.
“We’ll continue to monitor the situation and at the appropriate time will make a decision about when AWARD Awards judging can be rescheduled, along with the AWARD 40th and the Creative Festival,” said Blackley.
