LCRCA: Ten-year-old break dancer, Alder Hey and a mural project among Liverpool City Region Culture and Creativity Award winners
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An Alder Hey arts programme, a large-scale mural project and a
ten-year-old boy were among the winners at the Liverpool City
Region Culture and Creativity Awards 2025. More than 600 entries
from artists, creatives, volunteers and community groups were
whittled down to 54 finalists for the awards that celebrate the
very best of Liverpool City Region's thriving cultural and creative
sector. Sixteen winners across 15 categories were revealed at last
night's glittering awards...Request free
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An Alder Hey arts programme, a large-scale mural project and a ten-year-old boy were among the winners at the Liverpool City Region Culture and Creativity Awards 2025. More than 600 entries from artists, creatives, volunteers and community groups were whittled down to 54 finalists for the awards that celebrate the very best of Liverpool City Region's thriving cultural and creative sector. Sixteen winners across 15 categories were revealed at last night's glittering awards ceremony hosted by BBC Radio Merseyside's Billy Hui BEM DL at New Brighton's Floral Pavilion. The Flower Streets Mural Project scooped The People's Choice Award, which saw nearly 3,000 votes cast from across the Liverpool City Region. Other winners included ten-year-old break dancer Khalil Aydemir, who was named Inspirational Young Person of the Year, and Alder Hey's Arts for Health Programme which picked up the Health and Wellbeing award. Make CIC was named Arts Organisation of the Year for their outstanding transformative work in Birkenhead. Mayor of the Liverpool City Region Steve Rotheram said: “Each year, these awards help highlight the incredible and emerging talent that make our region truly stand out as the UK's cultural and creative capital. Whether it's catching a play, enjoying a gig, looking on or taking part, culture is at the heart of everything we do. “When we set up these awards, it was to say a huge thank you to the inspiring individuals and businesses that make our area so special. I'm excited for another night of celebration, where we'll recognise those who enrich our lives every day and continue to put the Liverpool City Region firmly on the map as the epicentre of culture, innovation, and creativity." The Judges Inspiration Award, recognising an individual's lifelong creative contribution, was presented to Producer, Artistic Director and Creative Consultant Karen Gallagher MBE. She said: “I was overwhelmed to be considered for this award. Engaging with people to provide access and support to culture and creativity as well as finding new ways of reaching communities has been the cornerstone of my work over the last four decades. “These awards are recognising how instrumental culture and creativity is in inspiring others, facilitating change and creating a social sense of belonging. Congratulations to everyone involved this year.” The sixth annual Culture and Creativity Awards were made possible through the Mayor's commitment to cultural activities across the Liverpool City Region. They were returning to Wirral - last year's Borough of Culture - which hosted the first ceremony in 2019. Emerging indie band Keyside played at the event that also delighted audiences with performances by Katumba, Katie Nicholas and dancers from Anamal Dance Academy. Musician and BBC presenter Billy Hui BEM, who is also a Deputy Lieutenant of Merseyside and Founder and Musical Director of the multi-award winning SingMe Merseyside Choir said: “What an event! I was delighted to be part of the awards, and it was lovely to celebrate them at the beautiful Floral Pavilion in New Brighton which has hosted so many cultural and creative icons over its 100-year plus history. “Congratulations to all of the winners and the finalists, they do great work across the city region and should be so proud of their achievements!” The 2025 event was sponsored by Liverpool One, ACC Liverpool, The Guide, The University of Liverpool Skills and Employability and 92 Degrees Coffee. To see highlights from the event and all of the winners visit www.lcrcultureawards.co.uk Notes to editors We will re-issue this press release with images from the event on Friday morning (7 March). Pictures of the individual winners will also be available. For further information please contact Clare Barber on 07917 491 726 or clare.barber@liverpoolcityregion-ca.gov.uk Main Photo: Inspirational Young Person Award winner 10 year old Khalil Aydemir. The Categories and winners: 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. Winner: The Flower Streets Mural Project 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. Winner: Tess Gilmartin 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. Winner: Make CIC Borough of Culture ‘Star of the Year' This award is to celebrate a shining star from the Liverpool City Region's 2024 Borough of Culture, Wirral. Winner: Andrew Shaw and Ryan Gauge – Convenience Gallery CIC 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. Winner: Focal Studios Community Cohesion Award This award is to celebrate the impact culture and creativity has on bringing communities together. Winners: The Flower Streets Mural Project Tiber Young Producers Project - 'The Threads that Bind Us' 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. Winners: Open Eye Gallery Health & Wellbeing Award This award is to celebrate the impact culture and creativity has in health and wellbeing. Winner: Alder Hey - Arts for Health Programme Improving Education & Learning Award This award is to celebrate the impact of culture and creativity to achieve positive outcomes in education and learning. Winner: The Builder Book Planet Pack Project Innovation Award This award is to celebrate game changing innovation, through the development of a new product or process in technology, business, healthcare, science and/or manufacturing. Winner: Butters Innovation Limited Innovator of the Year Award This award is to celebrate an individual, organisation or partnership whose application of creativity has been game changing, demonstrating innovation in the fields of technology, business, healthcare, science and/or manufacturing in order to develop and introduce new ideas and improved ways of doing things. Winner: Carl Grainger 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. Winner: Khalil Aydemir International Reach Award This award is to celebrate the impact culture and creativity has on strengthening international relationships. Winner: Francisco Carrasco, Luma Creations 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. Winner: Care Leavers into Careers (CLIC) Judges Inspiration Award - Outstanding Achievement This award is to celebrate and recognise an individual's outstanding creative contribution to the Liverpool City Region. Winner: Karen Gallagher MBE The Judging Panel The LCR Culture and Creativity Awards Judging Panel was made up of:
About the Liverpool City Region Culture and Creativity Awards. Part of the Metro Mayor's Percent for Culture initiative, these awards recognise the value and huge contribution that the cultural and creative sector bring to the Liverpool City Region, reinforcing it as one of the most vibrant and exciting places to live, work, visit, study or do business. Previous winners include Future Yard CIC, community organisation Granby Street Market, muralist Paul Curtis, and the Africa Oyé Festival. The judging panel shortlist the finalists for each category from the nominations received. For the People's Choice Award – Outstanding Contribution to Culture, the public are able to vote for their chosen winner. Nominees 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. |