Entries open for the Sir Billy Connolly Spirit of Glasgow Award 2024
It celebrates the city and its world-renowned warmth, resilience and humour
Last updated 15th Dec 2023
The Sir Billy Connolly Spirit of Glasgow Award is marking its second year as entries for 2024 are now open.
The initiative was first introduced as part of the 2023 Glasgow International Comedy Festival, aiming to celebrate the city and its world-renowned warmth, resilience and humour.
The award examines criteria which both Glasgow and Sir Billy Connolly represent including:
- Resilience - warm but tough
- Open - accessible for all
- Unapologetic - proud and unpretentious; curious and challenging; mould-breaking
- Gallus - bold and brave; self-starting
- Funny - above all else, an ability to make people laugh
The award recognises a person, not a show, meaning any GICF performers, venue staff, promoters or anyone otherwise involved in this year’s festival can apply.
Announcing Janey Godley as the inaugural winner in March 2023, Sir Billy Connolly said: “Glasgow deserves to have an international comedy festival - it’s the funniest town in the world, bar none. The standard is colossal and I’m always amazed when I see TV or live comedy from Glasgow. Janey Godley is a great comedian with an extraordinary life story to dwell on. I’m very proud to be part of the international festival and I’m very proud that my drawing has been part of the trophy. It’s lovely - let’s get on with it!”
Glasgow's comedy legacy
GICF Festival Director Krista MacDonald said: “Comedy is a significant part of Glasgow’s rich cultural identity. From everyday conversations to the comedy superstars the city produces and embraces, comedy lets us celebrate, connect, and find joy even at the bleakest of times. In many ways the characteristics of the best comedy are also the characteristics of the spirit of the city. Being funny, of course, but also to be self-starting, mould-breaking, bold and brave, curious and challenging, warm but tough, proud but unpretentious and open to all.
“Sir Billy Connolly - the best of comedy and the best of Glasgow - has all of these in spades. With the presentation of the Sir Billy Connolly Award Spirit of Glasgow Award, GICF celebrates those participating in the Festival who most display these characteristics. This could be a performer, promoter or venue staff; a life-long Glaswegian or a flying visitor; a festival first-timer or an old hand involved for the last two decades.”
Karen Koren, of GICF corporate director GB Festivals Ltd said: “We are honoured to be working with Sir Billy again to celebrate that which makes both comedy and Glasgow so special and can’t wait to present the winner as part of GICF’s Comedy Gala at the King’s Theatre in March.”
Registered participants of the 2024 festival can apply online at www.glasgowcomedyfestival.com.