Finalists revealed for annual Liverpool City Region Culture and Creativity Awards.

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 Judging has now 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.

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.

The Categories:

1. People’s Choice Award – Outstanding Contribution to Culture

This award is to celebrate an outstanding contribution to culture and creativity, which has made a significant difference to the quality of life at either local, borough or city region level.  

The People’s Choice Award is decided by the public, chosen from a shortlist of individuals or organisations that have made an outstanding contribution and shown commitment to culture over a sustained period.

The winner will be an individual, organisation or partnership that has demonstrated creative excellence in using cultural activity to bring about change.

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

2. Inspirational Young Person Award

This award is to celebrate the impact of a young person under the age of 25 who displays an innovative and inspiring approach to art, culture and/or creativity.

The winner will be an individual who has made a significant creative impact or made an outstanding piece of work and is inspiring in their chosen area of activity and / or supporting others to be creative.

The finalists are:

• Lucky Ali
• Emily Garner
• James Gillaspy

3. Artist / Creative of the Year

This award is to celebrate an individual whose work has stood out and contributed to the cultural and creative reputation of the LCR. This could be for a piece of work or a number of arts, cultural or creative projects that collectively have been consistently outstanding.

The winner will be an individual, group or organisation that has produced outstanding work during the year.

The finalists are:

• Addae G
• Natalie McCool and Stealing Sheep
• Emma Smith

4. Arts Organisation of the Year

This award is to celebrate an organisation whose work has stood out and contributed to the cultural and creative reputation of the LCR. This could be for a piece of work or a number of arts, cultural or creative projects that collectively have been consistently outstanding.

The winner will be a group or organisation that has produced outstanding work during the year.

The finalists are:

• Open Eye Gallery
• Creative Balance
• Andrew Curphy Theatre Company

5. Innovation Award

This award is to celebrate an organisation, group or partnership whose application of creativity has been game changing, demonstrating innovation in the fields of technology, business and/or science in order to develop and introduce new ideas and improved ways of doing things.

This could be for a single project or demonstration of innovation across a number of projects that have been consistently innovative.

The winner will be an organisation, group or partnership that demonstrated true innovation during the year.

The finalists are:

• Scenegraph Studios
• House of Memories On the Road, National Museums Liverpool
• Digital Skills Lab @ Everton in the Community

6. Innovator of the Year

This award is to celebrate an individual whose application of creativity has been game changing, demonstrating innovation in the fields of technology, business, and/or science in order to develop and introduce new ideas and improved ways of doing things.

This could be for a single project or demonstration of innovation across a number of projects that have been consistently innovative.

The winner will be an individual, that has produced outstanding work during the year.

The finalists are:

• Dr Srijan Jindal
• Lucky Ali
• Chris Butler

These next awards recognise excellence in applying culture and creativity to a range of themes that reflect our everyday lives and bring about significant change and transformation.

Categories 5 – 11 are open to anyone who lives, studies, or works in the Liverpool City Region or for projects that have benefitted the Liverpool City Region.

7. Health & Wellbeing Award

This award is to celebrate the impact culture and creativity has in health and wellbeing.

The winner will be an individual, organisation, project, or partnership, which has demonstrated excellence in using culture and /or creativity to achieve positive outcomes and transformation in health and wellbeing within the Liverpool City Region.

The finalists are:

• Damien John Kelly House
• Dr Simon Abrams, lead for Anfield, Everton & Aintree Community Innovation Team
• Holistic Harmonies – (Rachel Waite) and The Life Rooms

8. Environmental Award

This award is to celebrate the impact culture and creativity has on the green agenda, including environmental sustainability and contribution to net zero targets.

The winner will be an individual, organisation, project, or partnership within the Liverpool City Region, which has demonstrated excellence in these areas.

The finalists are:

• Incredible Edible Knowsley
• The Imagine Bamboo Project
• Ascent Autism Specialist College

9. Improving Education & Learning Award

This award is to celebrate the impact of culture and creativity to achieve positive outcomes in education and learning.

The winner will be an individual, organisation, project, or partnership, within the Liverpool City Region, which can demonstrate excellence and vision in using culture and creativity in these areas.

The finalists are:

• Malik Al Nasir
• Sefton Children’s University
• Liverpool Learning Partnership

10. Community Cohesion Award

This award is to celebrate the impact culture and creativity has on bringing communities together. 

The winner will be an individual, organisation, project, or partnership, within the Liverpool City Region, which has demonstrated excellence in using culture and creativity to achieve positive outcomes and transformation in communities.

The finalists are:

• The Community Hub
• Liverpool European Festival led by Merseyside Polonia with 27 Partners
• Liverpool Lighthouse

11. International Reach Award

This award is to celebrate the impact culture and creativity has on strengthening international relationships.

The winner will be an individual, organisation, project or partnership that operates at an international level and uses culture and creativity to strengthen international relationships, understanding, trade and global cultural opportunities. This category is open to anyone who lives, studies, or works in the Liverpool City Region.

The finalists are:

• Sound City
• HelpUkraineSong
• Rev. Dr Taras Khomych
• Jeremy Sleith (Music Service)

12. Preparing for Work Award

This award is to celebrate the impact culture and creativity has on developing technical, transferable and life skills in preparing young people for the world of work.

The winner will be an individual, organisation, project or partnership that can demonstrate excellence in using culture and creativity to prepare young people for the rapidly evolving changes, challenges, and opportunities in the future, helping them to achieve their potential.

This category is open to anyone who lives, studies, or works in the Liverpool City Region.

The finalists are:

• The Learning Foundry
• Writing on the Wall – Write to Work Project
• Juliet Doherty – Ascent Autism Specialist College

13. Business in the Arts Award

This award is to celebrate businesses that make a significant contribution to economic growth within the arts, culture and creativity sector.

The winner will be a business that has through partnership working, sponsorship or other support, made a significant contribution to the successful sustainability and growth of arts in the Liverpool City Region.

This category is open to any businesses that have had a direct impact on the arts in the Liverpool City Region.

The finalists are:

• Big Comedy UK
• Liverpool BID Company
• Future Yard CIC

14. Borough of Culture ‘Star of the Year’

This award is to celebrate a shining star from the Liverpool City Region’s 2023 Borough of Culture, St Helens. 

The winner will be an individual from St Helens who has shone during the Borough of Culture year.

This category is open to anyone from St Helens who has been part of St Helens’ Borough of Culture programme.

The finalists are:

• Fay Lamb – Wonderarts
• Tom Glynn
• Cath Shea
• Laura-Kate Pontefract

15. 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.

The winner will be someone whose body of work merits recognition for outstanding achievement and who has made a significant creative impact on their area of activity or expertise.

The recipient will be chosen by the judging panel.

All Nominees/finalists must live, study and/or work in the Liverpool City Region (e.g. Halton, Knowsley, Liverpool, Sefton, St Helens and Wirral) or have created work/projects that significantly benefit the residents or visitors to the Liverpool City Region and/or has positively contributed to the development of the local economy.

For more info on the Culture and Creativity Awards click HERE.

For more of the latest news in and around Liverpool click HERE.