Manchester City Council Search this site Accessibility Sign in Register HomeNews StoriesManchester Culture Awards - finalists announced ahead of awards ceremony later this week Manchester Culture Awards - finalists announced ahead of awards ceremony later this week Tuesday 23 November 2021 More Articles News stories News archive This week sees the return of the annual Manchester Culture Awards that are being held for the first time in two years after the pandemic meant they couldn't take place last year. Launched in 2018 by the council to acknowledge Manchester's rapidly growing reputation for culture and the arts, the awards recognise the very best of culture and arts in the city. After a two-year gap since the last awards in 2019 the call-out for nominations back in June drew a massive response. Nearly 300 nominations were made, recognising the exceptional contributions made by individuals and cultural organisations big and small across the city from April 2019 to the end of March 2021. This year the awards also pay homage to the many cultural organisations and individuals in Manchester that stepped up during the last year and, by doing things differently in a very Manchester way, helped keep us all connected and entertained at a time when many of us were alone and not feeling great. The exceptional quality of all those nominated gave judges the unenviable task of deciding which entries should go through to the final round of judging. This year's judging panel included actor Julie Hesmondhalgh; Jennifer Cleary, Director, North-West and Combined Arts (national), Arts Council England; Councillor Luthfur Rahman OBE, Deputy Leader Manchester City Council; Dr Cordelle Ofori, Manchester Health and Care Commissioning; Lisa O'Loughlin - Principal of The Manchester College; and Fiona Worrall, Strategic Director Neighbourhoods, Manchester City Council. The list of finalists in each category is as follows: Best Event House Party - HOME, Venture Arts and Drake Music Together in One Voice - Rose Marley & Dan McDwyer with partners the Co-op, Manchester City Council, Manchester International Festival and the Greater Manchester Combined Authority Our City Speaks - Contact and Manchester City of Literature Peterloo 2019 - Manchester Histories Black Gold Arts Festival with Contact Best Exhibition The Manchester Open - HOME Disrupt? Peterloo & Protest Exhibition - People's History Museum Grayson's Art Club - Manchester Art Gallery 50 Windows of Creativity - Wild in Art School of Integration - Manchester International Festival Best Performance Sirocco - Manchester Collective Untold Caroline - Manchester Camerata RENT - Hope Mill Theatre The Long Goodbye - Riz Ahmed and Manchester International Festival The Shadow - Company Chameleon Creative Care in COVID-19 (individual) Andy Barry Mark Fisher Kate Bradnam Meg Parnell Lydia Burke Creative Care in COVID-19 (organisation) Afrocats Creative Care Kits Coalition Manchester Camerata Venture Arts The Edge Theatre Promotion of Culture and Education Trapped in the Museum - People's History Museum Read Manchester - Manchester Libraries Halle Connect Black History Workshops - Big People Music Ltd Culture Feast - Manchester Enterprise Academy, Include Group Best Business Partnership Cultural Hardship Fund for Freelancers - Savannah Wisdom Foundation with B&M Retail Ltd, HOME & Manchester City Council Cargill and the Halle Inspire Programme Electricity North West and Manchester International Festival Auto Trader & HOME Promotion of Environmental Sustainability Science and Industry Museum Reform Radio HOME Manchester Manchester Day ream - Manchester City Council and Walk the Plank Promotion of Equality and Social Justice Digifest 2020 - Manchester Histories Sadia Habib GFF Damian Dance Studio Young People's Forum - Manchester International Festival Making Manchester - Olympias Music Foundation GFF Damian Dance Promotion of Health and Wellbeing Sound Up Arts Mark Fisher Halle Workplace Choir Z-Arts Contact Promotion of Talent and Leadership Assistant Conductor Scheme - Halle Concerts Society The Factory Academy - Manchester International Festival Brighter Sound Barinur Rashid - Manchester Muesum Jane Lawson - Castlefield Gallery Young Creative of the Year Fang Zhang Lydia Kinowski-Don Princess Arinola Adegbite Thameena Alam Olivia Lee The Manchester People's Culture Award The Old Abbey Taphouse Joseph Houston and William Whelton Sharon Raymond Reform Radio Gorton Visual Arts Councillor Luthfur Rahman OBE, Deputy Leader of Manchester City Council, said: "Manchester is and always will be a city that champions culture and creativity and we embrace everything the arts have to offer as an essential part of what helps make Manchester great. "After the year and a half we've just had through the pandemic it's probably fair to say that we've all learnt to better appreciate the escape, excitement, joy, and magic that cultural activities provide. "It's clear too, that after these most difficult of times, the city's cultural organisations, artists and creatives need the support of the city and their audiences more than ever, and we're determined to continue playing our part in this. "The amazing response to our call-out for nominations was a reminder of just how much energy and talent there is in the city and we can't wait to announce the winners later this week." The winners will be announced at an awards ceremony being held this week on Wednesday 24 November. Was this page helpful? 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