CRESTA commits to free entries for Covid-19 work with launch of dedicated category

The Cresta Awards has announced a special focus on the most notable work produced around the Covid-19 global pandemic.

It has launched a new category to record and recognize communications campaigns worldwide that are being created in response to Covid-19.

“The creative industry is playing a vital role in informing communities and helping change behaviors in every country around the world,” said Alan Page, Cresta president. “Whether it is through government communication campaigns, or coming from private sector organisations, brand initiatives, commercial or not-for-profit, everywhere we are seeing an incredible response to an unprecedented healthcare challenge.

“We know there is value in tracking this work, creating an archive we can all share and learn from. We need to take stock of it and give due recognition to the very best of what is being created,” he added.

“As the pandemic is tackled and overcome, the creative industry will have a role in helping the recovery,” added Lewis Blackwell, Cresta CEO. “We can learn from the whole range of what, how and who communicates during the crisis. This is a testing time for how the industry can contribute and we should help make this visible.

“I am sure the creative and communications world will continue to step up and make important contributions to helping the fight against the pandemic. At Cresta we can play a small part by reviewing and playing back the best that is done.”

All entries to the new category will be free. “Recording this work must be done regardless of budgets,” added Page. “We want everybody who has relevant work in this area to feel able to take part.”

As the entries come in, Cresta will share and promote selected work to its global database.

Cresta added that, as a global award with a purely digital process from entry, through judging, to awards announcement,  it hopes to maintain its original 2020 schedule. All judging is done by judges online, individually, with a focus on independent  decision-making and the avoidance of jury politics.

The awards will be announcing new jury members and other initiatives over the next month. Cresta has also extended its EarlyBird fees until 30 April.