Art-warming welcome

HAVE YOUR SAY IN THIS YEAR'S MANCHESTER CULTURE AWARDS

- By JENNA CAMPBELL

THE Manchester Culture Awards are officially back for another year, celebrating the city’s fantastic talent and creativity.

The annual prizes were launched in 2018 to showcase the city’s reputation for culture and the arts, and recognise the creative highlights over the last year, as well as some of Manchester's top artistic talent.

More than 350 nominations were received last year recognising individuals, events, and organisations big and small that together help make Manchester the vibrant and exciting place for culture and the arts it is.

Nominations for this year’s awards opened in June across 11 different categories including Young Creative of the Year, Best Event, and Best Performance.

This year will also once again see a special award made in partnership with the Manchester Evening News.

The Cultural Welcome Award will be presented to an organisation or venue that provides a great welcome to everyone - whether as audience members, visitors, or participants.

The prize is about finding a cultural organisation or venue that goes above and beyond to make sure everyone feels included and able to participate and join in with their output.

Now, the shortlist for The Manchester Cultural Welcome category, supported by the M.E.N., has been revealed too - and you can now vote.

The theme behind this year’s award category is at the heart of Manchester's 10-year cultural strategy for the city that was launched last September.

The plan is based on three different themes - everyone, everything, everywhere - and aims to give everyone in the city the opportunity to enjoy and participate in culture and the arts.

Coun Garry Bridges, deputy leader of Manchester council, said: “Widening access to culture and the arts for all and creating a ‘cultural welcome’ for everyone, regardless of their background is at the heart of our plan for the next ten years.