Arts & Business Scotland has announced the six judges who will make up the panel for the 30th Annual Awards. The judging panel which changes year on year consists of some of the most influential names from across the cultural and business sectors.

Judging for next year’s event will be undertaken by Nesta Gilliland, Abellio ScotRail Ltd, Sir John Leighton, National Galleries of Scotland, Jo Macsween, Macsween of Edinburgh, Dr Adele Patrick, Glasgow Women’s Library, Christopher Wynn, Edinburgh International Festival and A&BS’s Chair, Diana Murray.

Arts & Business Scotland’s Chief Executive David Watt said: “We are delighted to have a panel of such high-profile, influential individuals from the cultural and business sectors judging our awards for next year. Due to high demand we have extended the deadline until Friday 7th October, after which our panel will undertake the difficult task of selecting the winners across each of the categories.

“Next year will be a special year for us as we mark our 30th anniversary and we look forward to celebrating outstanding cross sector partnerships at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall in March.”

Next year’s event, which marks the 30th anniversary of the Awards, will be held at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall located in the heart of Glasgow’s city centre on Thursday 23rd March. Outstanding fundraisers in the cultural and heritage sectors will be recognised for the first time at the event with a new Fundraising Excellence Award. This category recognises an individual or team which has made a significant contribution to the fundraising efforts of an arts, cultural or heritage organisation in Scotland.

The partnership categories include people, placemaking, innovation, enterprise and international. As well as rewarding outstanding and creative partnerships between arts organisations and businesses the Awards recognise key individuals and projects which have made a significant contribution to the arts in the previous year.

The deadline for submitting nominations has been extended to 5pm, Friday 7th October with the shortlist due to be announced in November.