The winners of the 2020 Liverpool City Region Culture and Creativity Awards have been revealed in a unique online ceremony to celebrate the outstanding contributions to the industry in what has been a challenging year due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Hosted by Coronation Street and Emmerdale actress, Huyton-born Eithne Browne, the ceremony was broadcast live into over 300 homes where the finalists were standing by waiting for the winners to be announced.
Eithne Browne presenting at the Liverpool City Region Culture and Creativity Awards 2020 Credit: Liverpool City Region Culture and Creativity Awards
Guest presenters from across the city region including the Principal Dancer of the Royal Ballet Matthew Ball, music artist and international DJ Yousef, actress Leanne Best and chef Paul Askew helped distribute the accolades by video link in the 15 categories.
The People’s Choice award which saw 2,300 of votes cast from across the Liverpool City Region, was awarded to The Atkinson Sefton while the Lifetime Achievement award, recognising an individual’s lifelong creative contribution to the Liverpool City Region, was bestowed on photographer, independent filmmaker and visual artist Sandi Hughes.
Steve Rotheram appearing virtually at the Liverpool City Region Culture and Creativity Awards Credit: Liverpool City Region Culture and Creativity Awards
A panel of judges including Co-Chairs of the Culture Partnership Phil Redmond and Maggie O’ Carroll, chose the finalists from more than 700 nominations this year.
Sir Phil Redmond at Liverpool City Region Culture and Creativity awards 2020 Credit: Liverpool City Region Culture and creativity awards 2020
During the ceremony, the Borough of Culture title was handed from Sefton to Halton, the next of the city region’s six boroughs to hold the title.
Winner of the Borough of Culture Star of the Year award went to Claire Morgans from YKids. The Bootle childrens, young people and family charity aims to raise world changers – young people who believe that they can, and then do make a difference. In 2019 they set up a new project - a steam punt-themed childrens bookshop and literacy project which saw a children's literacy festival.
Meanwhile singer Jennifer John was awarded the Impact award for Covid-19 Creative Response for her Love Sings project that brought the world together to sing and raise money for charities affected by the COVID-19 crisis.
Liverpool Designer Mary Lamb, Head of Liverpool based costume and fashion production space fabricationstudios, also announced the winner of the Dress it Up competition which was awarded to Velma Von Bonbon in the amateur category and Emma Russell in the professional category.
The Culture and Creativity awards were created as part of the Metro Mayor’s Percent for Culture initiative, to recognise the value and power for change that the arts, cultural and creative sector can bring in reinforcing the city region as one of the most vibrant and exciting places to live, work, study, visit or do business.
This year’s awards covered arts and cultural events, innovation and creative activity that took place within the Liverpool City Region during the period 1st April 2019 to 12th November 2020.
