The winners of the 2022 Manchester Culture Awards have been announced.
Individuals, events and organisations including HOMEground, Lemn Sissay OBE, the Science and Industry Museum and Withington Walls co-founder Ed Wellard were amongst those recognised for their contribution within Manchester’s rapidly growing arts and culture scene.
This year's event, hosted by BBC presenter Nazia Mogra, was held at the Vermilion restaurant on November 24 and recorded the highest number of nominations since the awards first began in 2018, with 466 nominations made across 13 categories.
READ MORE: Andy Burnham defeats rival in DJ battle to raise £20,000 to support homeless
HOME’s temporary outdoor venue HOMEground was named Best Event for its live theatre, music, art, and curated cinema programmes held over the summer. Manchester Young Carers Music Project received the Made in Manchester award, which recognises the depth of amazing work in the city.
The Best Exhibition award was given to the Science and Industry Museum’s Cancer Revolution: Science, Innovation and Hope display, while Manchester International Festival’s When The Birds Land, which featured the 3.5 metre-tall puppet Little Amal, fetched the Best Performance prize.
Sharon Raymond, who has worked in audience development and community engagement at Royal Exchange, Contact theatre, and The Lowry, was named Independent Creative of the Year.
Winners for 12 of the awards were chosen by an esteemed panel of judges, including Councillor Luthfur Rahman OBE, Young Creative of the Year 2021 winner Princess Arinola Adegbite, visual artist Venessa Scott, Pete Courtie, Senior Relationship Manager Arts Council England, and Neil Fairlamb, Strategic Director of Neighbourhoods at Manchester City Council.
The Manchester People's Culture Award, a special award made in partnership with the Manchester Evening News, was chosen entirely by public vote with Ed Wellard, co-founder of community street art project Withington Walls, taking home the prize.
Special Recognition awards were handed out to Manchester’s Director of Culture Dave Moutrey OBE, author, poet, playwright, and campaigner Lemn Sissay OBE and the late Kate Day, who led Manchester Craft Design Centre for almost 15 years.
Councillor Luthfur Rahman OBE, Deputy Leader, Manchester City Council, said: "Let no-one say there isn't an appetite for the arts and culture in Manchester. The response each year to our culture awards shows we're a city that positively eats, sleeps, and breathes culture in all its many forms.
"This year once again they've proved what an incredible cultural scene there is here and just how much talent and potential there is.
"We are and always will be a city that champions creativity and the arts. They deliver real social and economic benefits to the whole city and are a massive part of what helps make Manchester the great place it is."
The full list of winners in each category are below.
- Best Business Partnership: Barry Bennett Ltd and Venture Arts
- Best Event: HOME - HOMEground
- Best Exhibition: Science and Industry Museum - Cancer Revolution: Science, Innovation and Hope
- Best Performance: Manchester International Festival - When The Birds Land
- Independent Creative of the Year: Sharon Raymond
- Made in Manchester: Manchester Young Carers Music Project
- Promotion of Culture & Education: MADE
- Promotion of Environmental Sustainability: Roots and Branches
- Promotion of Equality & Social Justice: Uncertain Futures
- Promotion of Health & Wellbeing: The Edge
- Promotion of Talent & Leadership: Brighter Sound Leadership Programme
- Young Creative of the Year: Yandass Ndlovu
- The Manchester People's Culture Award: Ed Wellard
Special Recognition Awards
- Dave Moutrey OBE
- Lemn Sissay OBE
- Kate Day
Read next:
