Judging has taken place ahead of this year’s Liverpool City Region Culture and Creativity Awards, with the independent panel sending a total of 47 people and organisations through to the final of the competition.
More than 600 nominations came in from across the six local authority areas of the Liverpool City Region and the judges, including experts in the field of arts, science and culture, had some difficult choices to make.
The winners will be announced at a glittering awards ceremony at St Helens Rugby League Stadium (Langtree Park) on Thursday 7 March 2024, the area being this year’s Borough of Culture.
There are 15 awards up for grabs including Artist/Creative of the Year, Community Cohesion and Inspirational Young Person as well as two new awards considering Innovation in the fields of technology, business and science where creativity has been key.
Cllr Mike Wharton, Portfolio Holder for Economic Development and Business said:
“These awards give us a chance to showcase what our area has to offer. I’m delighted we’re continuing to see so many nominations from across the city region and from such a variety of businesses, organisations and individuals.
“Well done to all the finalists. I look forward to the next stage of the competition!”
But one award won’t be decided by the judging panel. The winner of the People’s Choice Award for Outstanding Contribution to Culture, is voted for by the public from six finalists. Online voting for this category will open in the New Year. The finalists are:
- Sarah McLoughlin – Creative Balance
- Imaginarium Theatre
- Writing on The Wall (WoW)
- Africa Oyé
- Liverpool’s Royal Court Theatre
- Wirral History and Heritage Association
Tanya Wilcock Director of Communities at St Helens Council and one of this year’s judges said:
“This is the first time I have taken part in the judging for the Culture and Creativity Awards, and I found the calibre of the entries was incredibly high. It was a tough job to whittle down the nominations to create the shortlist for 2024.
“St Helens was the LCR Borough of Culture for 2023 elevating the culture and creativity within the area. We’re very excited to be hosting the awards for the first time as when we held the title in 2018 the awards hadn’t yet been created so we can’t wait until March!”
Voting for the People’s Choice will open in the New Year and the Liverpool City Region community will then be able to vote online for their chosen winner.
Established in 2019 under the Mayor Steve Rotheram’s 1% for Culture initiative, which commits to invest one per cent of the Combined Authority’s annual budget directly into cultural activities, the awards are in their fifth year of honouring the value and contribution the cultural and creative sectors bring to the region and the difference they make to people’s lives.
The 2024 event is sponsored by The ACC Liverpool Group Ltd, Davies Partnership, The Manufacturing Technology Centre Limited, Liverpool One and Novotel Liverpool Paddington Village.
For more information go to: www.lcrcultureawards.co.uk
Finalists
People’s Choice Award – Outstanding Contribution to Culture
- Sarah McLoughlin – Creative Balance
- Imaginarium Theatre
- Writing on The Wall (WoW)
- Africa Oyé
- Liverpool’s Royal Court Theatre
- Wirral History and Heritage Association
Inspirational Young Person Award
- Lucky Ali
- Emily Garner
- James Gillaspy
Artist / Creative of the Year
- Addae G
- Natalie McCool and Stealing Sheep
- Emma Smith
Arts Organisation of the Year
- Open Eye Gallery
- Creative Balance
- Andrew Curphy Theatre Company
Innovation Award
- Scenegraph Studios
- House of Memories On the Road, National Museums Liverpool
- Digital Skills Lab @ Everton in the Community
Innovator of the Year
- Dr Srijan Jindal
- Lucky Ali
- Chris Butler
Health & Wellbeing Award
- Damien John Kelly House
- Dr Simon Abrams, lead for Anfield, Everton & Aintree Community Innovation Team
- Holistic Harmonies – (Rachel Waite) and The Life Rooms
Environmental Award
- Incredible Edible Knowsley
- The Imagine Bamboo Project
- Ascent Autism Specialist College
Improving Education & Learning Award
- Malik Al Nasir
- Sefton Children’s University
- Liverpool Learning Partnership
Community Cohesion Award
- The Community Hub
- Liverpool European Festival led by Merseyside Polonia with 27 Partners
- Liverpool Lighthouse
International Reach Award
- Sound City
- HelpUkraineSong
- Rev. Dr Taras Khomych
- Jeremy Sleith (Music Service)
Preparing for Work Award
- The Learning Foundry
- Writing on the Wall – Write to Work Project
- Juliet Doherty – Ascent Autism Specialist College
Business in the Arts Award
- Big Comedy UK
- Liverpool BID Company
- Future Yard CIC
Borough of Culture ‘Star of the Year’
- Fay Lamb – Wonderarts
- Tom Glynn
- Cath Shea
- Laura-Kate Pontefract
Judges Inspiration Award – Outstanding Achievement
This award is to celebrate and recognise an individual’s outstanding creative contribution to the Liverpool City Region. This award will be decided by the judging panel.