LCR Culture & Creativity Awards 2021
Liverpool City Region is a thriving place for culture and creativity and we want to celebrate this.
2021 Awards
Our independent judging panel made up of members of the Liverpool Cultural Partnership together with invited representatives from the Creative and Cultural sector have now selected the finalists in this year’s Liverpool City Region Culture and Creativity Awards from your 730 entries!
Below is the shortlist for each category with the exception of the Judges Inspiration Award – significant contribution to Culture which is an award decided by the judging panel and awarded on the night.
The voting for the finalists in the People’s Choice Award – Outstanding Contribution to Culture is also now open and members of the public have the deciding vote. It closes on 1 February 2022.
Part of the Metro Mayor’s Percent for Culture initiative, these awards recognise the value and huge contribution that the cultural and creative sector bring to the Liverpool City Region making it one of the most vibrant and exciting places to live, work, study in, visit or do business in.
We want to acknowledge the power and value of culture and creativity and how they achieve positive outcomes that everyone can benefit from.
In March 2022, there will be a live awards event but we will also include a simultaneous online broadcast so that everyone can join in! The 2021 Awards event will be held at the incredible Cronton Playhouse in Halton.
Watch this space for more details!
The Award Categories
The finalists in each category are:
The People’s Choice - For Outstanding Contribution
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.
2021 Finalists
- Julia Samuels & 20 Stories High
- Claire Pitt
- Luma Creations
- Matt Rutter & Young Everyman and Playhouse
- Metal Culture
- The Reader
Artist of the Year
This award is to celebrate an artist 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.
2021 Finalists
- Faith Bebbington
- Sean Webster
- Ashleigh Nugent
Arts Organisation of the Year
This award is to celebrate an arts 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.
2021 Finalists
- The Unity Theatre
- Homotopia
- Norton Priory Museum & Gardens
Student Inspiration Award
This award is to celebrate the impact of a student under the age of 22 who displays an innovative and inspiring approach to art, culture and/or creativity.
The winner will be an individual who has made a significant artistic/cultural impact or made an outstanding piece of work and is inspiring and /or supporting others to be creative.
2021 Finalists
- Katie Ellams
- Khan Odita
- Molly Glinn
Impact Award – Health & Wellbeing
This award is to celebrate the power and value of culture and creativity to achieve positive outcomes 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.
2021 Finalists
- “The Iron Men” on Mental Health Monday with Mick Coyle
- Wendy Smith
- Dead Pigeon Gallery and Damien John Kelly House – Vitality Homes
Impact Award – Environmental Sustainability
This award is to celebrate the power and value of culture and creativity to achieve positive outcomes in environmental sustainability.
The winner will be an individual, organisation, project or partnership, which has demonstrated excellence in using culture and creativity to achieve positive outcomes and transformation in environmental sustainability within the Liverpool City Region.
2021 Finalists
- Coasts for Kids
- Taking Root in Bootle
- Metal Culture
Impact Award – Improving Education & Learning
This award is to celebrate the power and value of culture and creativity to achieve positive outcomes in education and learning.
The winner will be an individual, organisation, project or partnership, which can demonstrate excellence and vision in using culture and creativity to achieve positive outcomes and transformation in education and learning within the Liverpool City Region.
2021 Finalists
- Merseyside Music Education Hubs Alliance
- Heart of Glass with Andy Field, Beckie Darlington and schoolchildren from St Helens
- Mandela8 Roots and Wings
Impact Award – Improving Community Cohesion
This award is to celebrate the power and value of culture and creativity to achieve positive outcomes in community cohesion.
The winner will be an individual, organisation, project or partnership, which has demonstrated excellence in using culture and creativity to achieve positive outcomes and transformation in community cohesion within the Liverpool City Region.
2021 Finalists
- Claire Pitt
- Pagoda Arts
- LCR Pride Foundation
Impact Award – International Reach
This award is to celebrate the power and value of culture and creativity at an international level.
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.
2021 Finalists
- Physical Fest- International Festival of Physical Theatre (Tmesis Theatre)
- Dr Vicki Doyle
- Metal Culture
Impact Award – Future World of Work
This award is to celebrate the value of culture and creativity to stimulate adaptability across all age ranges for the future world of work.
The winner will be an individual, organisation, project or partnership that can demonstrate excellence in using culture and creativity to prepare people for the rapidly evolving changes, challenges and opportunities in the future, helping them to achieve their potential in a future world of work.
2021 Finalists
- Merseyside Community Training
- The Reader
- Unity Online by Unity Theatre
Impact Award – Sustainable Business in Arts
This award is to celebrate businesses that are sustainable and 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.
2021 Finalists
- MD Creatives
- Childwall Emporium
- dot-art
Covid-19 Creative Response (individual)
This award is to recognise an individual who has used culture and creativity to make a significant impact on people’s lives during the Covid-19 pandemic and the periods of lockdown. This could include adapting to different ways of working to creatively reach and engage others e.g. zoom choirs, online arts and cultural activities, sending out activity packs; and / or operating in a completely different way e.g. making PPE, providing local scrub Hubs, providing / supporting food distribution schemes.
The winner will be an individual who has made a significant impact during the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown periods throughout 2020/21.
2021 Finalists
- Elaine McNeill
- Bill Elms – Liverpool Theatre Festival
- Captain Robert Dobson MBE, 33 Signal Squadron
Covid-19 Creative Response (organisation)
This award is to recognise an organisation which has used culture and creativity to make a significant impact on people’s lives during the Covid-19 pandemic and the periods of lockdown. This could include adapting to different ways of working to creatively reach and engage others e.g. zoom choirs, online arts and cultural activities, sending out activity packs; and / or operating in a completely different way e.g. making PPE, providing local scrub Hubs, providing / supporting food distribution schemes.
The winner will be a group or organisation that has made a significant impact during the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown periods throughout 2020/21.
2021 Finalists
- Buzzhub (St Helens CDP)
- Collective Encounters
- Friends of Kirkby Gallery & Prescot Museum – Tina Ball
- Human Libraries
Borough of Culture ‘Star of the Year’
This award is to celebrate a shining star from the Liverpool City Region’s 2021 Borough of Culture, Halton.
The winner will be an individual from Halton who has shone during the Borough of Culture year.
This category is open to anyone from Halton who has been part of their Borough of Culture programme.
2021 Finalists
- Claire Pitt
- Rob Sanderson-Thomas
- Louise Nulty
Judges Inspiration Award
The Judges Inspiration Award – significant contribution to Culture, is an award decided by the judging panel and awarded on the night.
Previous winners include; Frank Cottrell-Boyce & Ruth Gould (2019) and Sandi Hughes (2020)
