TV presenter Jenny Powell hosted the awards
The winners of this year’s prestigious Manchester Culture Awards 2024 have been announced at a special awards ceremony held at the weekend.
Launched by the city council back in 2018 to acknowledge Manchester’s fast-growing reputation for culture and the arts, the annual awards recognise the very best of culture, creativity and the arts in the city – from the grassroots up.
They pay homage to the 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 the awards were invited earlier this year from members of the public, arts professionals, the voluntary and community sector and anyone else with an interest in culture and the arts – with nearly 400 nominations received.
All nominations had to reflect activity between April 2023 and March this year with nominees either based in Manchester or having a strong track record of delivering activity for the benefit of people who live in or visit the city, or that benefits the local economy.
As well as award categories recognising everything from, best event, best exhibition, and young creative of the year, to others that shine a spotlight on important theme of our times including the promotion of health and well-being, social justice and the environment, two Special Recognition Awards were made on the night.
The Special Recognition Awards were awarded by the judges to recognise the huge individual contribution made to culture and creativity in Manchester by the two recipients over a number of years.
The ceremony also saw the announcement of The Manchester People’s Culture Award – a special award made in partnership with the Manchester Evening News, with the winner chosen entirely by public vote.
Hosted by TV and radio personality Jenny Powell with co-hosts Jack So, Lauren Temple and Pelumi Fatayo – who are all young creatives living and working in Manchester – the ceremony saw awards made across twelve different categories in front of an audience of 300 individuals, all either involved or with an interest in culture and the arts in the city.
Councillor Garry Bridges
Councillor Garry Bridges, Deputy Leader of Manchester City Council and lead member on Culture for the council, said: “This has been a phenomenal year for culture in Manchester and as judges it felt like an impossible task to try to pick the winners from a field of candidates in which any one of them could so easily have been the front runner.
“A difficult job for judges for sure, but what an easy job for audiences, who the awards suggest are very well served in Manchester by culture and the arts, and who are pretty much guaranteed to find something to make them think, to excite or delight them, whichever way they turn on a night out in the city.
“What was also so brilliant to see this year – especially with the launch of our new 10-year cultural ambition for the city ‘Always, Everywhere’ a couple of months ago – was the sheer breadth of nominations made from organisations big and small, and from creatives working right across the city, from its furthest suburbs right into the city centre, and working across the widest range of art forms.
“We’re a place that not only loves culture we’re also fully committed to it and recognise the real social and economic benefits it brings. Delivering benefits across the board, helping bring visitors in their hundreds of thousands and new businesses to the city, as well as playing a huge part in making Manchester the vibrant world-class city it is.”
The judges for this year’s awards were Councillor Garry Bridges, Deputy Leader Manchester City Council; Sally Hirst, visual artist; Rod Kippen, who works with young people at the Horsfall gallery; Andrea Daubney, Assistant Director of Education, Manchester; John Rooney, Director of Neighbourhood Delivery Manchester City Council; and Sam Kalubowila, Senior Relationship Manager, Arts Council England.
Jen Cleary, Director North, Arts Council England, said “We’re delighted once again to support the Manchester Culture Awards in celebration of the fantastic creativity of the individuals, events and organisations of all sizes who make the city such a vibrant place to live and visit. It’s also great to see those working in creative health, cultural education and environmental sustainability recognised. Congratulations to the winners and all those on the shortlist – what they do means that everyone can enjoy great arts and culture on their doorstep, all year round.”
Debra King, winner of a Special Recognition Award
The winners in each category were:
Best Business Partnership
Cargill and Z-arts
Promotion of Culture and Education
Lekhani Chirwa
Best Performance
Census- Malandra Jacks
Promotion of Equality and Social Justice – two winners
ALL FM
Venture Arts
Young Creative of the Year
Eden-Haya Walters
Promotion of Talent and Leadership – two winners
Brighter Sound
MyHub Manchester’s Music Education Hub 2012 – 2024
Promotion of Environmental Sustainability
Fly on the Wall Press
Promotion of Health and Wellbeing
SMASH – Sick! Productions
Best Exhibition
Yayoi Kusama ‘You, Me and the Balloons’ – Factory International/ Manchester International Festival
Made in Manchester
TiPP
Independent Creative of the Year
Omid Asadi
Best Event
Festival of Libraries
The Manchester People’s Culture Award
Sahba Academy
Special Recognition Award
Debra King
Special Recognition Award
DJ Paulette
Debra King is the former Director of Brighter Sound which she led for 15 years before standing down at the end of 2023 to pursue a freelance career and receives her award in recognition of her pioneering contribution to music in Manchester, nationally and internationally. During her years working in Manchester she has been part of many groundbreaking projects, previously working as Music Officer at North West Arts, Director of Women in Music, regional officer at Youth Music, Arts Council, and a creative producer working across amazing initiatives including the Commonwealth Games, Spoken Like a True and Aftershock. She was also involved in the formation of Manchester Music City, which has been constructed in Debra’s signature mould of inclusion and collaboration with a pioneering spirit. A much-loved and respected figure in music in Manchester she is known for her panache, charisma and charm, as well as her leadership and generosity with her knowledge and time. She is someone who has also been tireless in her quest to open doors, break down barriers and make the music sector more equitable.
DJ Paulette is another icon of the Manchester Music Scene and is celebrated for bringing her passion, resilience and vision to music stages across the globe. Born in north Manchester, she has defined her own path in a sometimes-challenging industry and has also opened the doors for many others. Her career began in the 1990s when acid house and rave culture were re-defining clubbing. Starting out as a DJ in local clubs, she gained prominence in the city’s growing dance scene, until cementing her burgeoning career at The Hacienda – with her residency there marking her out as a significant figure in electronic music. Going on to DJ at prestigious venues in London, Paris and Ibiza she is known as a dynamic force behind the decks, captivating crowds with an eclectic mix of house, disco techno, funk and soulful beats. She has also broken barriers, becoming the first Black woman to hold major residencies in these renowned spaces, and is a passionate advocate for diversity, gender equality and mental health, and has spoken candidly about the challenges faced by women and people of colour in the largely male-dominated music industry, using her platform to push for change.
This year’s awards ceremony took place on Saturday 23 November at the Hilton Hotel, Manchester.
