Sky Arts Unveils 24-Hour Heroes

Sky Arts will be celebrating those who keep the U.K. arts world alive with 24-Hour Heroes, premiering August 27, and the Arts Hero Award.

“Too often, attention goes only to those on stage or in front of the camera, but the truth is, the arts are powered 24/7 by an army of extraordinary people working tirelessly behind the scenes to keep the U.K. arts world thriving,” said Phil Edgar-Jones, director of Sky Arts. “We want to champion the unsung Arts Heroes with the Arts Hero Award—the riggers, engineers, drivers, mentors and many more—and remind the public that the arts really are for everyone.”

The 24-Hour Heroes series celebrates 24 unsung arts workers–from stage managers unlocking doors at dawn to cleaners and book editors working into the night, revealing the huge range of roles that keep creativity thriving. The series marks the opening of nominations for the Arts Hero Award.

Across 24 hours on launch day, Sky Arts will reveal the portraits, taken by photographers across the U.K. such as Ricky Darko, Julie Broadfoot and Simon Murrell, on Instagram before exhibiting the full collection at The Roundhouse during the Sky Arts Awards on September 16.

Those photographed come from across the U.K. and represent a wide array of organizations, including Soho Theatre, National Theatre Scotland, Youth Music, Brudenell Social Club in Leeds, Scottish Opera, Art UK and more.

When asked what the arts mean to him, Patrick Ahaotu, cleaner and assistant building supervisor at National Theatre Scotland (NTS), commented, “As one of the first points of contact with NTS, my job has given me the opportunity to work alongside people from all walks of life, talent, skills and backgrounds, which has helped in building my confidence and improving my communication skills.”

Eliyah Reihana, receptionist and admin assistant at London Film School, added, “For me, the arts are about the people I meet every day—the friendships, the stories and the shared passion for creativity.”