Hundreds of people gathered to celebrate some of the most inspiring artists and creatives at this year’s Culture and Creativity Awards.
Winners were presented with their prizes at a ceremony held at the Cronton Playhouse in Halton on Wednesday, March 2, honouring work which took place across the region during 2021.
Organised by Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, artists, organisations and creatives gathered at the venue for the much-anticipated event, which was hosted by entrepreneur and Radio Merseyside presenter Ngunun Adamu.
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Guest presenters from across the city region joined her to announce the winners of the 15 categories chosen from more than 700 entries.
Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region said: “Culture plays such an important role in what makes our region great. From community organisations and individual artists to Hollywood stars, we have so much to be proud of.
"A big well done to all of this year’s winners. These awards recognise the imagination, inspiration, and innovation - and the immense value that the sector has contributed to our region in the past 12 months and beyond.
“The exceptional talents help to enrich all our lives and make our region one of the most vibrant and exciting places to live, work, study, visit, or do business in – and that the Liverpool City Region can rightly claim its place as the UK’s cultural capital.”
The People’s Choice Award, which saw 2,000 votes cast from across the Liverpool City Region, was awarded to Liverpool based charity The Reader, while the Lifetime Achievement award was given to Bea Freeman, for her work filming and capturing Liverpool communities over the decades.
A posthumous award was also bestowed on late Liverpool activist and historian Eric Lynch.
Author and performer Ashleigh Nugent won Artist of the Year, while the Arts Organisation of the Year award went to Liverpool’s Unity Theatre.
Impact Awards were presented to Dead Pidgeon Gallery and Vitality Homes’ Damien John Kelly House (Health and Wellbeing), Metal (Environmental Sustainability), Heart of Glass (Improving Education and Learning), Pagoda Arts (Improving Community Cohesion), Dr Vicki Doyle (International Reach), Merseyside Community Training (Future World of Work) and dot-art (Sustainable Business in Arts).
Khan Odita, founder of the Mulgrave Street Action Group CIC, won the Student Inspiration Award.
The Impact Awards for Covid-19 Creative Response were won by Liverpool Theatre Festival creator and producer Bill Elms (Individual) and Sefton’s Human Libraries initiative (Organisation).
Louise Nulty was chosen as Borough of Culture Star of the Year for her role during Halton’s Borough of Culture year including her work organising the Halton Music Weekender.
The 2021 awards were delivered in partnership with Halton Borough of Culture 2021, Cronton Sixth Form College and Riverside College; and were sponsored by Davies Partnership, LuBan Bar and Restaurant, INNSiDE by Melia Liverpool, Accountable Recruitment, LCR Connect and Love Lane Brewery.
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