Individuals and organisations across the Liverpool City Region are being invited to enter the 2024 Liverpool City Region Culture and Creativity Awards, including two new categories recognising innovation.
Established in 2019 under the Mayor’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.
There are 15 awards up for grabs at the ceremony in St Helens next March, including the People’s Choice Award decided by the public, and awards recognising the Artist or Creative of the Year, the outstanding arts organisation and outstanding achievement.
The Innovation Award and the Innovator Award are new this year and have been specifically created for the fields of technology, business and/or science where creativity has been key in demonstrating innovation.
Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said:
“It’s that time of the year when we celebrate the awe-inspiring creativity, artistry, and cultural vibrancy that makes our area shine. In the Liverpool City Region, culture is central to our identity; an integral part of what makes our area so vibrant, warm and colourful. We are the home of countless imaginative and creative minds that have made the world laugh, cry, dance and sing in equal measure.
“As Mayor of this fantastic region, it is my responsibility to help build on that legacy, to help ensure we are one of the most vibrant areas to live, work, study, visit, or do business in.
“These awards are one way of saying thank you to the incredible individuals and organisations who go above and beyond to make our region the country’s cultural and creative capital year after year.”
The categories are set to be contested by artists and creatives, volunteer and community groups whose work contributes to the region’s thriving cultural and creative ecosystem.
Cllr Mike Wharton, Portfolio Holder for Economic Development and Business said:
“The Liverpool City Region is brimming over with culture and creativity, from small community projects to massive schemes which reach across the world. These awards give us a chance to showcase what our area has to offer.
“The addition of this year’s two new categories gives even more opportunities for people to be recognised for the creative ways they are working across our city region and there’s about six weeks to get your nominations in, you can even put yourself forward – so what are you waiting for!”
The awards’ definition of creativity includes the use of technology, innovation, and science to develop and introduce new ideas, as well as innovative and transformational creative approaches, which is reflected in this year’s new categories.
Sir Phil Redmond, who is on the independent judging panel, said:
“With the Awards now an annual celebration of the creativity and innovation they highlight why the region is such an exciting and innovatory place to live and work.
“Once again, we would like to remind potential entrees that we aim to recognise creativity in all its forms, in the laboratory every bit as much as the stage. I’d like to encourage individuals and organisations from all sorts of backgrounds to enter the awards so we can see just how innovative people in the city region are in all sectors. We need to recognise and celebrate everyone’s potential to make a real, local, cultural difference.”
The awards ceremony always takes place in the area serving as Borough of Culture. March 2024 will be St Helens’ turn to play host. Nominations can include creative activity that brings people together, in real life or virtually – and self-nominations are allowed!
Professor Kate Royse – Director of the Hartree Centre joined the judging last year and is returning for 2024. She said:
“I’m delighted to welcome the two new categories around innovation as it specifically widens the definition of creativity to include technology, business and science for those who may not initially consider themselves to be in the culture and creativity sector.
“Looking at innovative ways of working, whether that’s coming up with a totally new invention or creating new approaches to tackle issues faced year after year absolutely requires creativity, and I can’t wait to see what the judges will receive.”
Any arts and cultural events, innovation and creative activity that took place within the Liverpool City Region during the period of 29 October 2022 to 27 October 2023 can be entered. Nominations are completed online and the closing date for entrants and nominations is 5pm, on Friday 27 October 2023.
A judging panel will consider all the nominations and choose category winners, while the public will be able to vote for the People’s Choice award.
For more details and to make a nomination visit www.lcrcultureawards.co.uk
Contact Information
CA Communications
LCR Combined Authority
communications@liverpoolcityregion-ca.gov.uk
Notes to editors
Photo: Mayor Steve Rotheram with Maleka Egeonu-Roby from World in One City who won last year’s People’s Choice Award.
Nominations can include an individual, organisation, group or partnership that is involved in the creation, promotion and use of culture and creativity within the following:
- Performing Arts (including Theatre, Dance, Music, Opera)
- Visual Arts
- Digital Art
- Photography
- Film and broadcast media
- Literature (including comedy and comics)
- Museums, Galleries and Heritage
- Sculpture
- Craft
- Technology
- Business
- Innovation and Science
The Categories:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Part of the Metro Mayor’s 1% for Culture initiative, these awards recognise the value and huge contribution that the cultural and creative sector bring to the Liverpool City Region, reinforcing it as one of the most vibrant and exciting places to live, work, visit, study or do business.
Previous winners include artist and writer Ali Harwood, community organisation Granby Street Market, muralist Paul Curtis, and the Africa Oyé Festival.
The judging panel will shortlist the finalists for each category from the nominations received. For the People’s Choice Award – Outstanding Contribution to Culture, the public will then be able to vote for their chosen winner.
Nominees 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.
Photo caption: Mayor Steve Rotheram with Maleka Egeonu-Roby from World in One City who won last year’s People’s Choice Award.
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