The National Trust/Bank of Bermuda Historic Preservation Awards

For those of you who may be wondering what happened to the 2000 Awards, the answer lies in our continued effort to streamline and improve the programme.

In the past we have run the programme and selected the award winners in one year and presented the awards the following year. For example, the 1999 Historic Preservation Awards were presented in June of 2000. This system, albeit well intentioned, proved to be a little confusing. And so, it was decided to change the scheme so that the programme, selection process, and award presentations all correspond in the same year. Thus the 2001 Historic Preservation Awards will be nominated, selected, and presented all within 2001.

1999 was an exciting year for the Awards Programme as it marked the first year of sponsorship by the Bank of Bermuda, which helped raise the programme to an entirely new level. Paid advertising, professionally printed publications, and dynamic education programmes, resulted in a record breaking 35 nominations. The Selection Committee was faced with a daunting task, but subsequent to a lengthy selection process, nine winning structures were selected for awards. The awards were presented at a special awards ceremony held at Pedro St. James, where about 140 guests gathered to applaud the nine award winning structures and their respective owners. The surprise for the evening was a public announcement by Allen Bernardo, Managing Director for the Bank of Bermuda, committing his organisation's continued support and sponsorship to the Historic Preservation Awards Programme 2000.

We will be launching the 2001 Awards by the end of February and with the Bank of Bermuda's continued support, it is sure to be another exciting year for the programme. So keep an eye out for our new and improved programme as well as the 2001 nomination forms!

Remember, you can nominate an old structure that has been well-maintained or restored, or a new structure built in the spirit of Cayman's built heritage.

This year, the plan is to showcase the Historic Preservation Awards Programme and the Award Winners in international publications so that we may begin to raise awareness about the magnificent architectural heritage - that is an integral part of our culture - of the Cayman Islands. So if you know of a structure, site, or object worthy of nomination, please call the Trust at 949-0121 for more information.

Nine winning structures were selected for awards.

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