Finalists revealed in the 5th annual Liverpool City Region Culture and Creativity Awards.

Judging has taken place ahead of this year’s Liverpool City Region Culture and Creativity Awards, with the independent judging panel sending a total of 47 people and organisations through to the final of the competition.

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 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.

Mayor Steve Rotheram (left) with Councillor Mike Wharton at the 2023 awards.

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 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’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.

For more information go to: www.lcrcultureawards.co.uk

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 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 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 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 finalists are:

• Open Eye Gallery


• Creative Balance


• Andrew Curphey 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.

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.

The finalists are:

• Dr Srijan Jindal


• Lucky Ali


• Christopher Butler

7. Health & Wellbeing Award

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

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 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 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 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 finalists are:

• Sound City


• Help Ukraine Song


• 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 finalists are:

• The Learning Foundry


• Writing on the Wall – Write to Work Project


• 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 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 2022 Borough of Culture, St Helens.

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.