Nominations open for 2025 Culture Awards

NOMINATIONS have opened for 2025 North East Culture Awards - our annual celebration of the region's artistic community.

- COREENA FORD

Now in their 18th year, the awards will take place at The Globe Theatre in Stockton on the evening of November 27 - the first time the event has graced the stage at the Grade II-listed art deco theatre.

Award categories take in exhibitions, festivals and events, artists, writers, musicians, comedians, makers, venues and the people and organisations helping to make things happen in the North East's creative spaces.

There's also a new category for 2025 - Off Stage Creative of the Year - which recognises the vital creative and technical talent behind the scenes, including lighting and sound design, set and costume design, producing, stage management, and curating.

The awards, which began in 2006, celebrate and showcase the cultural infrastructure and diversity of the region, from the Tees Valley to the Scottish Borders, through not only the finalists but also live performances on stage. Last year the audience enjoyed musical entertainment from the Voices of Virtue Gospel Choir and Lizzie Esau, a dance production from Eliot Smith Dance based on the Pitmen Painters, and were mesmerised by a special recital by leading author David Almond.