Northern Cultural Education Awards 2024
The event turned a spotlight on best practice, innovation and activism in the field of creative and cultural education across the North of England.
The mission of this Awards programme is to celebrate the incredible, passionate people – teachers, artists and creative practitioners, youth and social workers, health and wellbeing specialists and community volunteers – who are working so hard for children and young people.
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150 Award Nominations
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8 Award Categories
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315 Celebration Event Attendees
The quality of the entries was extremely high, as always, making the process of reviewing and scoring them no easy task for our independent judging panels.
The eventual winners were announced at our fun, bold and colourful celebration event, which included an Awards Ceremony and Wonderland - an immersive creative space showcasing some of the region’s rich and diverse cultural offer for young people and creative educators.
Celebrating the 2024 finalists and winners
The Innovation and Leadership in Education Award
A trailblazing school or education setting which has embedded the arts, creativity and culture to deliver transformational outcomes for pupils, staff and/or community.
- Ascent College
- Formby High School
- Fred Longworth High School
- Luminate Education Group
- Mill Hill School, Northallerton
- St John’s Primary School, Cliviger
- Wistaston Academy
Winner: The Hollins High School
The Inspirational Local Partnership Award
This award celebrates a cross-sector group of organisations that has worked collectively to improve access to arts, culture and creativity for the children and young people in their local area.
- Create Rochdale
- Ellesmere Port Cultural Learning Exchange - Highly Commended
- Fusion (Barnsley's Cultural Education Partnership) and Eldon High Street Heritage Action Zone
- Leeds Heritage Theatres and LEPP Creative Legacy Project
- Selby High Street Heritage Action Zone Cultural Consortium
- Tees Valley Museums Consortium (Preston Park Museum, Museum of Hartlepool and Hartlepool Art Gallery) with Children North East and Tees Valley Creative Education Partnership
- Wardrobes – ARCADE (Bridlington), KIT Theatre, East Riding Libraries and Bridlington Spa
Winner: darts (Doncaster Community Arts), Cast Theatre and City of Doncaster Council's Early Years Inclusion Team
The One to Watch Award
Presented this year in memory of Elli Chapman.
Focusing on the next generation of leaders in cultural education. This award recognises someone taking their first steps into a career that champions high-quality arts and culture for children and young people.
- Anna Wijnhoven
- Charly Ward
- Georgina Raynor
- Holly Woodman
- Kyle McKenzie
- Parisa Pirzadeh
- Rebecca Kingston
Winner: Toni-Louise Carter
The Hearts and Minds Award
A project that has used targeted creative or cultural activity to positively impact children and young people's health and wellbeing.
- Blue Cabin
- Concerteenies
- darts (Doncaster Community Arts)
- EdShift
- More Music
- Mortal Fools
- TIN Arts
Winner: Blackpool Grand Theatre
The Young Arts Activism Award
It’s not just about the adults! This award celebrates a group of young people or an individual who have led creative action to drive a difference in the world around them.
- Emergence Boys Dance Group (via NAPA: The Northern Academy of Performing Arts)
- Off the Curriculum Project (via Common Wealth Theatre Company)
- R&D Creative Writers (via Respect & Dignity Arts)
- The Fell We Climb Project (via Anti Racist Cumbria)
- The Young Producers (via Tees Valley Museums)
- Wakefield: Where We Are… project (via Wakefield Museum and Castles)
- Youth Engagement Forum (via National Museums Liverpool)
Winner: Stand Out Young Producers (via Blaze Arts)
The Grassroots Awards: Fearless Freelancer
Recognising an individual committed to working creatively with children and young people despite the socio-economic challenges inherent in a freelance career.
- Abigail James
- Mark Hill
- Rob Keeley
- Sarah Gough
- Ursula Hurst
- Vicky Tyrrell
Winner: Polly Ives
The Grassroots Awards: Small But Mighty
A small grassroots organisation, whose work within the community it serves has contributed to the cultural and creative life of children and families.
- A Place for Us CIC
- AmaSing
- Blue Moose Dance Company
- dot-art Services CIC
- Skills 4 All
- Unity Arts - Highly Commended
- Wirral MakeFest
Winner: OmniMusic
The Changemaker Award
Presented this year in memory of Pauline Tambling.
The recipient of the Changemaker Award is chosen jointly by the CEO and Chair of Curious Minds.
It recognises an individual whose work, over many years, has made a significant positive change to the field of arts and culture by, with and for children and young people.
