Are you a dark sky champion?

 

In 2015, the Warrumbungle National Park was the first place in Australian to be designated as a Dark Sky Place. The designation not only celebrates the night sky and allows visitors from all over the world to see a star-filled sky but is something that the community has come to embrace as a benefit to the people, place and planet.

 

In conjunction with StarFest, the Dark Sky Park Committee (made up of representatives from the Warrumbungle Council, 2357, Siding Spring Observatory and Australasian Dark Sky Alliance) have created the Dark Sky Champion Award, recognising those who have engaged with the Dark Sky Park and have shared the benefits with others.

 

The Dark Sky Champion Award will be awarded for groups or individuals who have shown commitment to the education of dark sky principles.

 

Groups or individuals, who wish to enter should be able to demonstrate they have directly contributed to the success of the dark sky park through an event, project or activity that:

1. Engages/d the general public in an innovative activity, event or project.

2. Raises/d awareness about light pollution, mitigation, research and/or technology and,

3. Encourages/d audience behavioural changes.

4. Reaches/d a wide audience through facebook posts, database mailouts, project, event participation etc.

 

Terms of Entry for Entrants:

1. Dark Sky Champion Prize

The 2022 Dark Sky Champion (“Prize”) will be awarded to one eligible entrant.

The prize consists of

·   $750 gift voucher for use in any store in Coonabarabran, Gilgandra, Warrumbungle or Dubbo Shire

·   1 night accommodation for 2 people at Siding Spring Observatory, breakfast, dinner and guided tour of the Anglo Australian Telescope *subject to availability – valued at $320

·   Trophy with the winners name

 

2. Entrants

·   Each entrant may submit multiple entries, for different projects, events or activities.

·   The event, activity or project must have taken place between 1 July 2021 and 30 June 2022.

·   There is no entry fee to participate

·   Entrants must be residents of the Warrumbungle, Coonamble, Gilgandra or Dubbo Shires.

·   DSPC reserves the right to request evidence from entrants to determine whether an entrant is eligible to enter the Prize and DSPC’s decision on the eligibility of an entrant is final.

·   Board members, volunteers and employees of DSPC and their families are ineligible to enter the Prize.

 

3. Entry Process

·   Entrants must create a 3 – 5 minutes video that outlines and highlights the project, activity or event.  (format .wav4)

·   Entrants must complete the entry form (Entry Form) available from (Google).

·   Each completed Entry Form must be submitted to the DSPC before 5pm, Australian Central Standard Time, on the Entry Closing Date - Applications close 5pm AEST 28 October 2022

·   Digital images, press releases, media coverage or feedback of the project, activity or program must be provided with the entry.

·   Entries received after the Entry Closing Date will not be considered for the Prize.

·   Entry will only be accepted through the entry below.

 

4. The Project

·   The project can be any form of public education on the benefits of dark sky principles. This includes, but is not limited to, artworks, festivals, retrofitting of lights, information evenings, tour programs, dinners under the stars, poetry or music.

·   The project will be assessed on how far-reaching and the accessibility to the audience.

5. Judging

·   DSPC shall appoint a judging panel (“Judging Panel”).

·   The Judging Panel will view the digital images of each Project and select finalists’ Projects to be included in the Exhibition (“Selected Projects”).

·   The decision of the Judging Panel is final. There will be no appeal from the Judging Panel’s decision.

·   DSPC and the Judging Panel reserve the right to not award the Prize.

·   In the case of a tie or the unlikely event where the Judging Panel’s deliberations are undetermined an appointed member of DSPC may exercise a casting vote.

 

 

Scoring Criteria:

Innovation - How innovative the project was - 20%

Promoted/s the Warrumbungle Dark Sky Places, Dark Sky Friendly businesses in the region - 20%

Reached/s new audiences - 25%

Raised/s awareness of science & technology related to Light Pollution - 10%

Encouraged/s audience participation and behavioural change - 25%

 

Key Dates:

Applications open 8 August 2022

Applications close 5pm AEST 28 October 2022

Public Announcement of successful grant recipients 11 November 2022