Applause
for a year of
excellence
T
he Journal Culture Awards, in
association with the Arts Council,
are almost upon us, which equals
42finalistswaitingtohearwhether
they'll be going home with a trophy on the
night.
The night in question � a lovely
celebration of a bumper year culture-wise �
will be happening on March 24 at Northern
Stage in Newcastle.
It will be the third such ceremony and will
further sew the event into the fabric of the
region's annual culture doings.
Proceedings will see the great, good and
downright wonderful members of the North
East cultural community coming together
for a collective back-pat (and probably the
odd glass of chardonnay) before the
ceremony reveals who's won what.
Visual artists, writers, newcomers,
performers and performances, events,
museums, arts/business partnerships and
all-round excellence will all be suitably
rewarded with a trophy and a bespoke
Culture magazine front page.
Previous years have seen the likes of
Rachel Unthank and the Winterset; Sakoba
Dance; The Stockton International
RiversideFestival;LivLorent;BlythinaNew
Light; Katie Doherty; Picture House at
Belsay; Ira Lightman and Pitmen Painters
receiving the coveted Culture Awards.
But who will it be this year?
We've taken the liberty of listing the
runners and riders. So all you have to do is find
a highlighter pen and wait for the winners to be
announced on the night in question.
A full Culture Awards supplement will be
featured in The Journal on March 25, while all
the winners will be listed on the website at
www.journallive.co.uk/cultureawards.
Now all there's left for us to do is wish
everyone the best of luck and a wonderful
night on the 24th.
Best Event Northumberland
Blyth in a New Light
Hexham Book Festival
Northumberland Lights
Best Event Tyneside
EAT! NewcastleGateshead
Enchanted Parks
Shipley Lates
Best Event Sunderland
Beautifully Crafted
Sunderland Aquatic Centre Launch Event
Whispering in the Leaves
Best Event Durham
BRASS
Durham Arts Festival
Durham Enlightenment
Best Event Tees Valley
Bauhaus at mima
Saltburn-by-the-Sea Bandstand Concerts
War of the Worlds, part of the AV Festival
Best Overall Event...
sponsored by One NorthEast, will be
announced on the night, and will be chosen
from the winners of the respective sub-
regional Best Event categories.
Performance of the Year
sponsored by Newcastle College
Geoff Dead: Disco for Sale
Variations VII, part of the AV Festival
We Got Mittens Too!
Performing Artist of the Year
supported by Visit Tees Valley
Danny Adams, (Robinson Crusoe and the
Caribbean Pirates)
Beccy Owen (singer)
The Futureheads (band)
Visual Artist of the Year
sponsored by Sunniside Partnership
Richard Forster
Francis Gomila
Laura Lancaster
Newcomer of the Year
supported by NewcastleGateshead Initiative
Alex Charrington
Scott Frazer
Lee Mattinson
Writer of the Year
Paul Batchelor
Catrina McHugh
Susan Mulholland
The gongs are polished, the finalists are fluffing their
hair and a years worth of cultural doings are just
waiting to be celebrated. It simply must be time for
the Culture Awards 2008, says Sam Wonfor.
cultureMARCH09
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