BAFTA has announced TripleC, a gateway organisation that helps deaf, disabled, and neurodiverse people access the arts and media as the recipients of a BAFTA TV Craft Special Award.
Actor Cherylee Houston (Coronation Street) founded TripleC six years ago. Together with a group of friends including Melissa Johns (LIFE, Grantchester), they have built a platform for making the creative screen industry more inclusive. As one of the Academy’s highest honours, BAFTA will present TripleC with the TV Craft Special Award in recognition of their work and dedication in improving access and accessibility, connecting organisations, raising awareness around disability issues, and influencing decision makers within the television industry.
Melissa Johns and Cherylee Houston, co-creative leads of TripleC said: “We are thrilled that our organisation TripleC and the work carried out by everyone involved in the company has been recognised by BAFTA. When we set up this organisation 5 years ago, we were just a group of disabled and non-disabled creatives coming together to see if we could make a change. I don’t think we ever knew the size of impact that that seed of an organisation would have on the lives of so many deaf, disabled and/or neurodivergent creatives. From work in schools with disabled children and young people to the leap in career development and employment of disabled artists throughout the industry. This is just the start of the journey. Our industry is changing for the better and we can’t wait to fully show the world the talent that’s in it. The recognition from BAFTA will support our drive for change and help ensure accessibility and inclusivity is high up on every agenda.”
Sara Putt, Chair of BAFTA’s Television Committee and Deputy Chair of BAFTA said: “We are delighted to be honouring TripleC with this year’s Craft Special Award, in recognition of their outstanding achievements within the television industry. Cherylee and Melissa have used their platform for deaf, disabled and/or neurodivergent creatives in the arts and have gone above and beyond to improve access, opportunities, and representation. While there is still a long way to go, TripleC’s creative approach has had a significant impact on BAFTA, I’m thrilled that we are giving them the spotlight and I am eager to see what the next few years of our industry will look like as a result.”
Previous recipients of the BAFTA TV Craft Special Award include joint founding directors of The Farm Group, Nicky Sargent and Vikki Dunn, script supervisor Emma Thomas, the production team behind Game of Thrones, prop-master Bobby Warans and Casting director Nina Gold.
Jon Creamer
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