Northern Devon's Flourishing Culture Awards is part of North Devon Council and Torridge District Council’s Flourishing Culture Strategy. The awards recognise the innovation, talent and hard work that drive local creative sectors.
This year's awards event will take place on Friday 28 March at the Park Hotel in Barnstaple, where the winners will be announced. Following a public campaign, we received over 170 nominations across 11 categories, each of which, are sponsored by local businesses.
The nominees, categories and sponsors are:
- Arts in education, sponsored by Centre Stage School - Together Again Community Cre8tives; Katherine Lockett
- Crafts - Target Devon; Llinos Gale
- Digital, film and moving image, sponsored by Devon Film Logistics - Jo Stewart-Smith and Amanda McCormack for ‘Boat Stories’; Bideford Film Society
- Diversity and inclusion - Sunrise; Toby Adamson and Mark Read for ‘For A Time’
- Heritage, sponsored by Pearce Construction - Hele Corn Mill; Emily Wapshott and John Eeles for ‘Dig the Castle’
- Innovation, sponsored by Devon Film Logistics - Red Herring Productions; Mandy Harding for The Benita Project
- Sport - Coastal swim Coaching; Gavin Lane, Barum Boxing Club
- Literature - Pat Glover and the Schools Team for the Appledore Book Festival; Chloe Lake
- Performing arts sponsored by Landmark Theatres - Fringe TheatreFest Barnstaple; Louisa Hockin School of Performing Arts
- Rural community engagement - Sea Ilfracombe Maritime Festival; Peter Robinson for ‘Molton Monthly’
- Visual Arts - Ilfracombe Arts Trail; North Devon Arts
- Special Recognition Award - sponsored by Dartington Crystal. Award to be announced at the event
The Flourishing Culture strategy was adopted and launched by North Devon and Torridge District Councils in October 2022. It aims to improve people’s access to arts, support local economic growth through culture and safeguard vital local collections for future generations. The strategy sets out the value that culture brings to northern Devon, the aspiration for what it could be, and some suggested actions for raising the ambition, sustainability and impact of culture in all its forms across the region.
Sponsoring future events
By sponsoring future awards, your company will receive:
- an award in your company’s name, which will be presented to the winning individual or organisation in one of the award categories
- widespread visibility of your company’s branding and association with this important initiative, on all communications linked to the event
- seats at a premium table for the event, with a welcome drink and canapés, ensuring you and your guests enjoy an exclusive experience at the awards ceremony
In addition to the sponsorship package, your business will be highlighted in the event’s promotional materials, press releases, and during the awards ceremony itself, positioning your organisation as a leader in supporting the local creative industries as acknowledged in the North Devon and Torridge Economic Strategy’s Creative Industries Cluster.
We believe that your support will have a lasting impact, not only in celebrating the achievements of those within the creative sector but also in furthering the economic development of our region.
Businesses interested in sponsoring future events to receive an award in the company's name should contact culture@northdevon.ac.uk.
Enquiries and questions can be directed to culture@northdevon.ac.uk (North Devon Council residents) or Claire.Gulliver@torridge.gov.uk (Torridge District Council residents).