Six finalists in this year’s Liverpool City Region Culture and Creativity Awards are battling it out in a public vote to see who will be crowned with the coveted title of People’s Choice – Outstanding Contribution to Culture.

The People’s Choice Award vote, which is held online, is the only category in the awards where the winner is chosen by the public. 40 other finalists, whittled down from more than 730 entries from across the City Region, were shortlisted by our prestigious judging panel before Christmas. The winners will be unveiled at a planned ‘in person’ ceremony in March, which will hopefully return, following our virtual event last year.

The six finalists are:

■ Julia Samuels and 20 Stories High, a leading theatre company and director working with under-represented young people to tell their stories.

■ LUMA Creations, an arts and cultural organisation which builds Latin American community links through a range of creative activities, events, arts and artists.

■ Matt Rutter and the Young Everyman and Playhouse (YEP), a theatre group and director providing opportunities for young people aged 14-25 encouraging them to create exciting experiences for different audiences.

■ Metal Culture, acts as a catalyst for art and artists to create innovative societal change. It works with artists and the community to produce exciting multidisciplinary programmes of international and UK artists.

■ The Reader, a Calderstones-based national charity bringing people together to experience the life-enriching power of literature through Shared Reading.

■ Claire Pitt, Halton artist, Culture HQ curator and Director of Hazlehurst Studios in Runcorn.

Mayor of the Liverpool City Region Steve Rotheram said:

“The Liverpool City Region is the UK’s cultural capital. Creativity is in our bones. And from community organisations and individual artists to Hollywood stars, we have so much to be proud of. 

“The nominees for this year’s Culture and Creativity Awards deserve every bit of praise for their hard work. Their imagination and inspiration has not let us down and they are at the forefront of our creative recovery. 

“Culture plays such an important role in what makes our region great. It’d be fantastic if you could show your appreciation for our wonderful creative sector by having your say and voting for the People’s Choice award!” 

Anyone can vote in the competition, including for more than one candidate, but multiple votes for the same person or organisation cannot be sent from one email address. Votes close on the 1^st February 2022, when the results will be totted up and the winner will be announced at the ceremony on Wednesday 2^nd March.

Councillor Mike Wharton, the Combined Authority’s Portfolio Holder for Culture in the Liverpool City Region and leader of Halton Council said:

“We’re honoured to be hosting this year’s Culture and Creativity Awards in Halton having just completed our Borough of Culture year. I can’t wait to welcome all of the finalists, but first we have to vote for the worthy winner of the People’s Choice accolade – and who will be chosen by the public for their outstanding contribution to culture?

“There’s an amazing amount of hard work that takes place within our cultural sector across our communities and I hope everyone gets involved in the vote.”

The event is set to be held at the Cronton Playhouse in Halton hosted by BBC Radio Merseyside’s Ngunan Adamu. It will also be broadcast live online across the Liverpool City Region to allow everyone involved to join in with the celebrations.

Presenter Ngunan is looking forward to it:

“I’m so excited to be involved in this year’s event and I urge everyone to get voting for your favourite People’s Choice finalist. As an award voted for by the public, it means a lot to the organisation, or person nominated, to be chosen by the people they have created their work for, or who have benefitted from their work in some way.

“Well done to all of the finalists and fingers crossed we’ll be able to meet in person at the awards ceremony.”

The Liverpool City Region Culture and Creativity Awards do not only define culture as professional arts, cultural events and performances. They also recognise the achievements of the voluntary and community sector who use creative approaches that are innovative and transformational. Work entered into the awards must have taken place between 13 November 2020 and 12 November 2021.

Finalists 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.

To place your vote and for more information on the People’s Choice finalists go to www.lcrcultureawards.co.uk. The closing date is 1^st February 2022.