Julie McKirdy BEM named Volunteer Promoter of the Year at NRTF Awards

We are delighted to share that Julie McKirdy BEM, Library Manager at Thimblemill Library and one of Black Country Touring's longest-standing Community Promoters, has been named Volunteer Promoter of the Year at the National Rural Touring Forum Awards. The award was announced this week at the NRTF Connection Conference 2026 in Wolverhampton.

Julie is everything we believe a Community Promoter can be: deeply rooted in her community, ambitious for her audiences, and committed to making culture and creativity accessible to everyone. Thimblemill is our beacon for what a great touring venue looks like, and Julie – along with the Friends of Thimblemill Library – is the reason why.

"Julie is simply one of a kind. She has spent decades making sure that the people of Bearwood have access to brilliant live performance, and the trust her community places in her is something every promoter aspires to. This award recognises not just what she does for Thimblemill, but what she represents for our whole sector."

Natalie Kidman, Black Country Touring Promoter Manager

Julie has worked at Thimblemill Library in Bearwood, Sandwell, for nearly 50 years, and has been hosting BCT shows since 2009. In that time she has transformed a small branch library into one of the most celebrated cultural venues in the Black Country, programming theatre, dance, music and exhibitions for a diverse local community in an area with no dedicated arts venues.

In 2019, Thimblemill became the UK's first Library of Sanctuary, a reflection of the openness and inclusivity Julie brings to everything she does. She received the British Empire Medal in 2015 for her work promoting literacy, equality and inclusion, was named Public Library Champion of the Year in 2016, and is a valued member of the BCT Board.

Congratulations, Julie. This is richly deserved.