Award Overview

This award recognises an outstanding partnership between an arts, culture or heritage organisation and a business that has made a significant contribution to the North East's cultural sector through collaboration, innovation and shared ambition.

Judges will be looking for partnerships that demonstrate a genuine commitment to working together to achieve shared goals. Whether through creative programming, audience engagement, skills sharing, sponsorship, innovation or community initiatives, successful collaborations will show how each partner contributed their unique expertise, resources and experience to deliver meaningful outcomes.

The award celebrates partnerships that have strengthened organisations, expanded audiences, enhanced cultural value and created lasting social, economic or creative impact through a shared vision and a commitment to collaboration.

Eligibility: Partnership activity must have taken place, in whole or in part, between September 2025 and September 2026.

What are the judges looking for?

• A genuine collaborative partnership with shared vision and objectives.
• Innovation and creativity in the development and delivery of the partnership.
• Clear mutual benefit, with both partners making meaningful contributions.
• Positive impact on audiences, communities, organisations or the wider cultural sector.
• Evidence of lasting value, sustainability or legacy beyond the life of the project.
  

Award Overview

This award recognises an outstanding partnership between an arts, culture or heritage organisation and an education provider that has enriched cultural learning and creative opportunities for children and young people across the North East.

The judges will be looking for collaborations that demonstrate a genuine commitment to inspiring the next generation through creativity. Whether delivered through curriculum-based projects, schools programmes, youth-led initiatives, creative learning, or community-based activities, the partnership should demonstrate innovation, shared purpose and meaningful outcomes for young people.

Successful entries will show how both partners contributed their expertise to create lasting educational, cultural or social impact, inspiring creativity, confidence and participation.

Eligibility: Partnership activity must have taken place, in whole or in part, between September 2025 and September 2026.

What are the judges looking for?

• A genuine collaborative partnership with shared goals.
• Creative and innovative approaches to learning and engagement.
• Positive impact on children and young people's learning, confidence or participation.
• Clear value created by both organisations.
• Evidence of lasting impact, sustainability or legacy.

Award Overview

This award celebrates an outstanding event or exhibition that captured the imagination of audiences and made a significant contribution to the cultural life of the North East.

Open to events and exhibitions of any scale, discipline or venue, judges will be looking for exceptional creative ambition, audience engagement and delivery. Whether through storytelling, innovation, community participation or artistic excellence, the event or exhibition should demonstrate a memorable and meaningful cultural experience.

Successful entries will show strong public engagement alongside evidence of artistic quality, cultural relevance and lasting impact.

Eligibility: The event or exhibition must have taken place between September 2025 and September 2026.

What are the judges looking for?

• Creative excellence and originality.
• High-quality planning and delivery.
• Strong audience engagement and participation.
• Cultural significance or community impact.
• Evidence of success through audience feedback, attendance, media recognition or legacy.
  

Award Overview

This award recognises a museum, gallery or cultural venue that has made an exceptional contribution to its community through inspiring programming, welcoming experiences and meaningful public engagement.

Judges will be looking for organisations that place audiences and communities at the heart of their work. Whether through exhibitions, events, learning programmes, outreach or partnerships, successful entrants will demonstrate creativity, accessibility and a commitment to serving diverse audiences.

The award celebrates venues that have become valued cultural hubs, enriching the lives of residents and visitors alike.

What are the judges looking for?

• Excellence in programming and visitor experience.
• Inclusive and accessible engagement.
• Strong community connections and partnerships.
• Innovation in responding to audience or community needs.
• Lasting cultural, educational or social impact.
  

Award Overview

This award celebrates outstanding contributions to preserving, protecting and sharing the rich heritage of the North East.

Open to individuals, organisations, projects or events, the award recognises work that brings heritage to life - whether through conservation, research, interpretation, education or creative engagement. Heritage may include historic buildings, collections, archaeology, landscapes, traditions, languages or other aspects of the region's cultural identity.

Judges will be looking for initiatives that deepen understanding, encourage participation and ensure the region's heritage continues to inspire future generations.

What are the judges looking for?

• Commitment to preserving or promoting heritage.
• Innovation or creativity in interpretation or engagement.
• Meaningful community involvement.
• Educational or cultural value.
• Lasting contribution to the region's heritage.
  

Award Overview

This award recognises an exceptional emerging creative talent who has established themselves as an exciting new voice in the North East's cultural sector.

Open to early-career practitioners of any age, the award celebrates writers, performers, visual artists and creatives whose work has shown outstanding originality, promise and impact. Whether through a debut exhibition, publication, commission or performance, nominees should demonstrate the confidence and creativity to make a significant contribution to the region's cultural future.

Eligibility: Eligible work must have been presented, published or premiered between September 2025 and September 2026.

What are the judges looking for?

• Outstanding creative potential.
• Originality and artistic excellence.
• Strong audience or industry engagement.
• Evidence of impact or recognition.
• A distinctive contribution to the North East's creative landscape.
  

Award Overview

This award celebrates the exceptional individuals whose creativity, expertise and dedication bring performances, exhibitions and cultural experiences to life behind the scenes.

Open to producers, designers, technicians, stage managers, curators, production staff and other off-stage creatives, the award recognises those whose work has significantly contributed to artistic excellence across the North East.

Whether through a single outstanding production or sustained excellence across multiple projects, nominees should demonstrate innovation, professionalism and outstanding creative skill.

Eligibility: Work must have taken place between September 2025 and September 2026.

What are the judges looking for?

• Exceptional technical or creative expertise.
• Significant contribution to artistic vision and delivery.
• Innovation and problem-solving.
• Professionalism and collaboration.
• Impact on the success of productions, exhibitions or events.
  

Award Overview

This award honours an outstanding live performance that captivated audiences and demonstrated exceptional artistic excellence.

Open to performances across theatre, music, dance, comedy and multidisciplinary arts, judges will be looking for work that combined originality, technical excellence and emotional impact to create an unforgettable audience experience.

Whether intimate or large-scale, the winning performance will have left a lasting impression through creativity, storytelling and artistic ambition.

Eligibility: The performance must have taken place between September 2025 and September 2026.

What are the judges looking for?

• Outstanding artistic quality.
• Originality and creativity.
• Exceptional audience engagement.
• Emotional, cultural or artistic impact.
• Memorable performance and delivery.
  

Award Overview

This award recognises an outstanding performer or performing company that has made an exceptional contribution to the North East's performing arts sector.

Open to artists working across all live performance disciplines, the award celebrates sustained excellence or a standout achievement that demonstrates exceptional talent, creativity and audience connection.

Judges will be looking for performers who consistently inspire, entertain or challenge audiences while contributing to the region's vibrant cultural life.

Eligibility: Performances must have taken place between September 2025 and September 2026.

What are the judges looking for?

• Exceptional artistic talent.
• Originality and creativity.
• Outstanding stage presence.
• Strong audience engagement.
• Meaningful contribution to the North East performing arts sector.
  

Award Overview

This award celebrates an exceptional artistic achievement by a young person or group aged 18 or under who has demonstrated remarkable creativity, dedication and promise.

Open to all artforms, the award recognises young people whose work has inspired audiences, achieved significant success or demonstrated outstanding commitment to developing their creative talents.

Whether through performance, exhibition, writing, filmmaking, music or another creative discipline, judges will be looking for achievements that stand out for their originality, ambition and positive impact.

Eligibility: Nominees must have been aged 18 or under during the period September 2025 to September 2026.

What are the judges looking for?

• Exceptional creativity and talent.
• Commitment and dedication.
• Originality and artistic achievement.
• Positive impact on audiences or communities.
• Outstanding potential for future success.

Award Overview

This award recognises an outstanding North East-based visual artist whose work has demonstrated exceptional creativity, technical skill and artistic vision.

Open to artists working across all visual media, the award celebrates work that has inspired audiences, challenged perceptions or made a significant contribution to the region's cultural landscape.

Whether recognising a single work, exhibition or wider body of practice, judges will be looking for originality, quality and lasting impact.

Eligibility: Eligible work must have been created or exhibited between September 2025 and September 2026.

What are the judges looking for?

• Exceptional artistic excellence.
• Originality and creative vision.
• Technical skill and innovation.
• Audience engagement or critical recognition.
• Contribution to the North East's cultural landscape.
  

Award Overview

This award celebrates an outstanding North East-based writer whose work has demonstrated exceptional originality, craftsmanship and cultural impact.

Open to authors, playwrights, poets, screenwriters and writers working across all forms and genres, the award recognises published, produced or publicly presented work that has resonated with audiences and enriched the region's literary and cultural landscape.

Judges will be looking for compelling storytelling, a distinctive voice and work that demonstrates both creative excellence and lasting impact.

Eligibility: Eligible work must have been published, produced or publicly presented between September 2025 and September 2026.

What are the judges looking for?

• Excellence in writing and storytelling.
• Originality and distinctive voice.
• Cultural or artistic impact.
• Audience or critical recognition.
• Contribution to the North East's creative community.
  

The Arts Council believes that everyone should be able to participate or experience creativity and culture, wherever they live and whatever their background, and that engaging in cultural experiences can be truly life-changing.

~ What was your highlight of the last year from among the fantastic range of arts and cultural activity in the North East?

~ What did you enjoy seeing or taking part in?

The Arts Council England Award is looking for nominations of artistic performances, events or cultural organisations that have made a positive difference to your life this year – it could be a theatre show, a festival, a museum creative play session, joining a craft session or visiting the library.

The winner(s) of this award will be chosen by the judging panel and will be announced at the awards evening.  Submissions are not invited for this special award.