This week sees the return of the annual Manchester Culture Awards that are being held for the first time in two years after the pandemic meant they couldn't take place last year.
Launched in 2018 by the council to acknowledge Manchester's rapidly growing reputation for culture and the arts, the awards recognise the very best of culture and arts in the city.
After a two-year gap since the last awards in 2019 the call-out for nominations back in June drew a massive response. Nearly 300 nominations were made, recognising the exceptional contributions made by individuals and cultural organisations big and small across the city from April 2019 to the end of March 2021.
This year the awards also pay homage to the many cultural organisations and individuals in Manchester that stepped up during the last year and, by doing things differently in a very Manchester way, helped keep us all connected and entertained at a time when many of us were alone and not feeling great.
The exceptional quality of all those nominated gave judges the unenviable task of deciding which entries should go through to the final round of judging.
This year's judging panel included actor Julie Hesmondhalgh; Jennifer Cleary, Director, North-West and Combined Arts (national), Arts Council England; Councillor Luthfur Rahman OBE, Deputy Leader Manchester City Council; Dr Cordelle Ofori, Manchester Health and Care Commissioning; Lisa O'Loughlin - Principal of The Manchester College; and Fiona Worrall, Strategic Director Neighbourhoods, Manchester City Council.
The list of finalists in each category is as follows:
Best Event
House Party - HOME, Venture Arts and Drake Music
Together in One Voice - Rose Marley & Dan McDwyer with partners the Co-op, Manchester City Council, Manchester International Festival and the Greater Manchester Combined Authority
Our City Speaks - Contact and Manchester City of Literature
Peterloo 2019 - Manchester Histories
Black Gold Arts Festival with Contact
Best Exhibition
The Manchester Open - HOME
Disrupt? Peterloo & Protest Exhibition - People's History Museum
Grayson's Art Club - Manchester Art Gallery
50 Windows of Creativity - Wild in Art
School of Integration - Manchester International Festival
Best Performance
Sirocco - Manchester Collective
Untold Caroline - Manchester Camerata
RENT - Hope Mill Theatre
The Long Goodbye - Riz Ahmed and Manchester International Festival
The Shadow - Company Chameleon
Creative Care in COVID-19 (individual)
Andy Barry
Mark Fisher
Kate Bradnam
Meg Parnell
Lydia Burke
Creative Care in COVID-19 (organisation)
Afrocats
Creative Care Kits Coalition
Manchester Camerata
Venture Arts
The Edge Theatre
Promotion of Culture and Education
Trapped in the Museum - People's History Museum
Read Manchester - Manchester Libraries
Halle Connect
Black History Workshops - Big People Music Ltd
Culture Feast - Manchester Enterprise Academy, Include Group
Best Business Partnership
Cultural Hardship Fund for Freelancers - Savannah Wisdom Foundation with B&M Retail Ltd, HOME & Manchester City Council
Cargill and the Halle Inspire Programme
Electricity North West and Manchester International Festival
Auto Trader & HOME
Promotion of Environmental Sustainability
Science and Industry Museum
Reform Radio
HOME Manchester
Manchester Day ream - Manchester City Council and Walk the Plank
Promotion of Equality and Social Justice
Digifest 2020 - Manchester Histories
Sadia Habib
GFF Damian Dance Studio
Young People's Forum - Manchester International Festival
Making Manchester - Olympias Music Foundation
GFF Damian Dance
Promotion of Health and Wellbeing
Sound Up Arts
Mark Fisher
Halle Workplace Choir
Z-Arts
Contact
Promotion of Talent and Leadership
Assistant Conductor Scheme - Halle Concerts Society
The Factory Academy - Manchester International Festival
Brighter Sound
Barinur Rashid - Manchester Museum
Jane Lawson - Castlefield Gallery
Young Creative of the Year
Fang Zhang
Lydia Kinowski-Don
Princess Arinola Adegbite
Thameena Alam
Olivia Lee
The Manchester People's Culture Award
The Old Abbey Taphouse
Joseph Houston and William Whelton
Sharon Raymond
Reform Radio
Gorton Visual Arts
Councillor Luthfur Rahman OBE, Deputy Leader of Manchester City Council, said: "Manchester is and always will be a city that champions culture and creativity and we embrace everything the arts have to offer as an essential part of what helps make Manchester great.
"After the year and a half we've just had through the pandemic it's probably fair to say that we've all learnt to better appreciate the escape, excitement, joy, and magic that cultural activities provide.
"It's clear too, that after these most difficult of times, the city's cultural organisations, artists and creatives need the support of the city and their audiences more than ever, and we're determined to continue playing our part in this.
"The amazing response to our call-out for nominations was a reminder of just how much energy and talent there is in the city and we can't wait to announce the winners later this week."
The winners will be announced at an awards ceremony being held this week on Wednesday 24 November.