Call for culture competition nominations
SEFTON creatives have been encouraged by the borough’s council to submit their nominations for the 2020 Liverpool City Region Culture and Creativity Awards.
The council has issued the appeal to the borough’s artists, arts organisations, and community groups.
Due to be announced in February 2021, the awards will recognise arts and cultural events, as well as innovation and creative activity within the Liverpool City Region between April 1, 2019, and November 12, 2020.
The awards will celebrate Liverpool’s thriving culture and creativity, even in the face of the coronavirus pandemic.
Cllr Ian Maher, leader of Sefton Council and culture, tourism and visitor economy portfolio holder for the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, said: “Our borough has a wealth of individuals and organisations involved in the arts and is a hotbed of creativity.
“We want to see that reflected in the entry for these prestigious City Region Culture and Creativity Awards.
“The awards are for any creative activity that brings people together within their communities.”
Nominations can be completed online and the closing date for entries is Friday, November 13. These can include individuals, organisations, businesses, groups or partnerships that have ‘demonstrated outstanding creative achievement through cultural activity at a local, borough or Liverpool City Region level’.
Categories include: Artist of the Year, Arts Organisation of the Year, and Student Inspiration. There will also be special COVID19
Creative Response awards for individuals and organisations.
There is also a Borough of Culture Star of the Year Award to celebrate an individual or organisation that has made a significant contribution to Sefton’s Borough of Culture 2020 celebrations.
Cllr Maher said: “They can be real or virtual and can include voluntary and community-based social activity, creative approaches by businesses and researchers, as well as those involved in the creation and delivery of professional arts and cultural events and performances.
“The Covid-19 pandemic has had a huge impact on every aspect of our lives, including the arts. Our own Borough of Culture 2020 celebrations have been affected but I have seen huge levels of creativity despite the restrictions and these awards will celebrate that innovation.”
Cllr Maher also highlighted that the period that is covered by the awards starts from April 1 2019.
Cllr Trish Hardy, Sefton Council’s main Borough of Culture sponsor, said: “When restrictions hit, individuals and organisations reacted swiftly.
“The 2020 Liverpool City Region Culture and Creativity Awards are an ideal way to recognise the adaptability and determination to deliver projects that have helped lift local people’s spirits.”
Finalists will be announced on Monday, January 5. The awards ceremony, which will be a digital event with presenters still to be announced, will take place on Friday, February 19. To find out more about the Liverpool, Merseyside, awards, please visit the website.