Following last year’s phenomenally successful inaugural awards, Manchester Culture Awards are back – by popular demand – for a second year.

Nominations are now open for the awards that recognise the very best of culture and cultural events held in the city over the last year.

Last year’s awards attracted more than 280 nominations across a wide range of cultural events and recognised the cultural contributions made by organisations big and small across the city.

The awards were established by the Council in recognition of Manchester’s rapidly growing reputation world-wide for an enviable cultural offer that makes a significant contribution to the city’s economy each year, as well as helping make the city a vibrant place to live, work, and play in.

In 2017/18 Manchester’s cultural organisations generated economic impact of an estimated £137.2 million in Gross Value Added, through employment, contracts and attracting visitors to the city. They supported a total of 219,706 volunteer hours at a value of £3.2m, and reached more than 4.5 million people as audience members through nearly 10,000 productions and commissions. Collectively the organisations delivered activity in every ward of the city.  (Source: MCC Cultural Impact Survey 2017/18).

This year’s awards will recognise cultural achievements and events held in the city between 1 April 2018 and 31 March 2019.

Awards will be made in twelve different nomination categories to acknowledge different aspects of the last year’s cultural highlights, including Best Event, Young Creative of the Year, and Best Performance.

In addition to the twelve main nomination categories with winners to be decided by a panel of judges, there is also a chance for members of the public to join in with the awards and vote for their own cultural winner through the Manchester People’s Culture Award – a special award to be made in association with the Manchester Evening News.

Nominees for each of the awards must be based in the city of Manchester or have a track record of delivering activity for the benefit of the people who live in or visit the city, or that benefits the local economy.

Judging will take place over the summer when all nominations will be looked at and carefully assessed before a full list of finalists is published in October.

Winners will be announced at this year’s awards ceremony to be held on Saturday 9th November.

Nominations are now open and entries can be submitted until midnight on Sunday June 30th.

The full list of award categories includes:

Young Creative of the Year
A young person (aged 13-25) who is inspiring future generations of Mancunians and others through their creativity and/or supporting others to be creative.

Promotion of Health and Wellbeing
A project, organisation or partnership that is making an impact by improving people’s health and well-being.

Promotion of Equality & Diversity
An organisation, group or individual that is committed to increasing equality and diversity in culture.

Promotion of Environmental Sustainability
A project, organisation or partnership that is making a positive impact on the environment or raising awareness of green issues.

Promotion of Talent and Leadership – sponsored by Softcat plc
An organisation, group or individual that does great work supporting others to grow their skills and talents.

Promotion of Culture and Education
An organisation, school, group or individual that supports children’s education through cultural and creative activity.

Best Business Partnership
An organisation, group, or individual with entrepreneurial spirit, leading innovative business partnerships.

Best Event
A brilliant event that you think should be recognised.

Best Performance 
A performance, in any art form, that was outstanding.

Best Exhibition – sponsored by Manchester Central
An arts or heritage exhibition that was outstanding.

Inspiring Innovation
An organisation, group or partnership who stood out for taking a fresh or radical approach leading to successful outcomes in any area of delivery.

Outstanding Contribution
An organisation, group or partnership whose work stood out and made an outstanding contribution to the cultural reputation of Manchester.

The Manchester People’s Cultural Award
Someone whose dedication and contribution to culture in Manchester should be recognised. This is a special award and the final winner will be chosen by a public vote, in association with the Manchester Evening News.

Councillor Luthfur Rahman, Executive Member for Skills, Culture and Leisure, said:

“Last year’s awards were a massive success and attracted a huge number of nominations – all recognising the kind of quality, talent, and content that has fast become a fixture in the city and that showcases Manchester as the centre of the cultural universe that we know it to be.

“Culture is not an optional extra here.  We know that it delivers real social and economic benefits and is a key part of what makes this a great city.  It supports jobs, fires imaginations, boosts confidence and skills, and is good for people’s health.

“The awards are a great opportunity to recognise and celebrate the contribution culture makes to our city.  So get involved and get nominating now!”

For more information on the awards and to make a nomination visit: www.manchester.gov.uk/cultureawards