The inaugural Culture Burnley Awards took place on 5th September 2024. The aim of the Awards was to celebrate Burnley’s cultural organisations and individuals, providing them with a high-profile platform and showcase.
Our next awards will be held on Thursday 16 April 2026, so look out for details later in 2025!
2024 Award Winners
Rising Star Award
Winner Reuben Lawless
Highly Commended Jake Brannon
Promotion of Talent Award
Winner Karen Metcalfe
Highly Commended Uzma Raziq
Cultural Partnership Award
Winner David Ridehalgh, Burnley Library (collected by Keith Burrows)
Highly Commended Counter Culture Burnley High Street Heritage Action Zone Cultural Consortium
Community Award
Winner Burnley Youth Theatre
Highly Commended Padiham Murals Project
Event Award
Winner Burnley Canal Festival
Highly Commended Burnley Words Festival
Independent Creative Award
Winner Jai Redman
Highly Commended Jess McGlinchey
Cultural Organisation Award
Winner Mid Pennine Arts
Highly Commended British Textile Biennial
Volunteer Award
Winner Burnley Film Makers
Highly Commended Burnley Civic Trust Heritage Image Collection Volunteers
Outdoor Town Award
Winner Burnley Canal Festival
John ‘Gilly’ Gillmore host of the 2024 Culture Burnley Awards
Legend of the airwaves, John Gillmore, was the perfect host for our inaugural Awards. Gilly has had a fairytale career spanning five decades…and some incredible experiences along the way. Basically, if you’ve heard of them, chances are that Gilly’s chatted to them! From Michael Caine, Michael Parkinson, and Tony Blair to legendary figures from the world of entertainment and history makers including Buzz Aldrin, the second man to walk on the Moon.
In 2005, Gilly was head hunted by BBC Radio Lancashire. He was an instant hit; bringing the fun and unpredictability of commercial radio, putting the listeners first and becoming a true champion of all things Lancastrian.
Gilly has a great passion for Lancashire. His efforts to promote tourism saw him voted the Marketing Lancashire “Tourism Superstar” in a public vote. He also mounted a mammoth live radio broadcast in aid of BBC Children in Need which earned him an official Guinness World Record for the most live interviews conducted in 24 hours.
Away from the microphone, you’ll find him enjoying a stroll and getting involved in Lancashire life, hosting charity events and supporting fantastic causes such as Derian House children’s hospice, the Defying Dementia project based at Lancaster University (of which Gilly is a patron), the Girl Guiding movement and many, many more.
Huge thanks to Gilly for joining us and being a fabulous host!
2024 Photo Gallery
Award Categories
Rising Star Award
Do you know, or have you worked with a young person who shows significant talent and potential within the cultural and creative sector? This award is for outstanding 13 – 25 year olds who are tipped to be the cultural stars of the future in any discipline.
Promotion of Talent Award
For those behind the scenes who are role models, giving their time and energy either paid or unpaid, to teach and support others to develop their cultural and creative skills.
Cultural Partnership Award
To recognise outstanding collaborations between culture and any other sector(s) for example education, commercial, leisure and health that are delivering cultural projects, events or activities.
Community Award
For individuals, groups or organisations who are actively working to support communities and help them to overcome barriers through cultural and creative activities
Event Award
For an outstanding cultural festival, performance or event in any cultural discipline that has taken place between 1 April 2022 and 31 March 2024.
Independent Creative Award
For cultural and creative individuals in any field who are creating excellent, original work and / or supporting and influencing the development of culture in Burnley.
Cultural Organisation Award
For organisations of any size that are delivering inspirational and innovative cultural and creative activity. Includes museums, galleries, dance schools, music schools, heritage organisations, educational establishments and more, that are delivering cultural programmes.
Volunteer Award
To recognise the valuable contribution of those who volunteer their time to support or deliver cultural experiences. Open to any age and any discipline.
Nominations for the 2026 Awards will open later in 2025.
Nominee criteria
Nominees must be Burnley based or have delivered work in Burnley that has made a significant impact. Nominations must relate to activity which has taken place between the specified dates for each awards period. People and organisations nominated must have been active in the category nominated in Burnley, during this same period. For these awards, nominees must be involved in one or more of the following areas:
- heritage
- visual art (all forms – painting, drawing / illustration, sculpture, textile art, glasswork and more)
- music and singing
- theatre
- performance
- dance
- film and broadcast media
- literature (including poetry, spoken word etc.)
- digital art
- photography
- craft and creativity
- cultural education
- production, direction, other “behind the scenes” roles.
Tips for nominating
We want to help you to make your nomination as good as possible, so here are some tips.
- The awards are about celebrating the best in Burnley’s Culture, make sure that any nominations relate directly to Burnley.
- Read through the criteria and make sure that you select the most appropriate category. You can apply to more than one category, but answers must be tailored to the category and not just copied and pasted from one nomination form to another.
- Make sure that you give yourself the time needed to write a good argument for why your nominee deserves to win. Be specific, we want to understand what sets your nominee apart from others. We expect to get a lot of entries, so if a strong and clear case isn’t presented, any additional evidence may not be reviewed by the panel.
- Choose any supporting evidence carefully. Should the nominee be shortlisted, the images supplied will be used in print and digital media for the ceremony, make sure there are no restrictions that would prevent this.
- Double check any contact details are correct and that you’ve included everything you need to before you submit.
FAQ’s
Who can submit a nomination?
Nominations can be submitted by individuals or representatives of groups or organisations. We will not accept nominations for individuals from family members.
Do I need to pay to submit an entry to the awards?
No, there is no cost to submit a nomination.
Who can I nominate?
Eligible nominees must either be based or delivering work in Burnley. Burnley refers to the borough, so can include Padiham and the villages within the Burnley boundary.
Nominations must relate to activity which has taken place between 1 April 2022 and 31 March 2024. People and organisations nominated must have been active in the category nominated in Burnley, during this same period. We’re sorry but anything relating to before 1 April 2022 is not eligible. Anything after this period can be submitted for the next award ceremony in 2025.
Can I nominate the organisation or group that I am part of for an award?
Yes, as an employee or volunteer you can put forward a cultural organisation or group that you are connected with.
Can I nominate myself for an individual award?
No. For any of the categories where an individual person is being nominated for their personal achievements, nominations should be sent in by a third party. You can still talk to them about the nomination and get any supporting evidence that you need.
What is included in the definition of culture?
Events, people or organisations from the following fields are eligible: heritage, visual art (including painting, drawing or illustration, sculpture, glasswork, textile art, mixed media), textile design, fashion, music and singing, theatre, performance, dance, film and broadcast media, literature (including poetry, spoken word), digital art, photography, craft and creativity, cultural education, production, direction, other “behind the scenes” roles.
Can I nominate more than once?
You can enter nominations into as many different categories as you like.
However, if you are entering the same nominee into more than one category, do consider if each category is relevant and tailor your nomination information to each specific category.
If you are submitting more than one nominee into the same category, ensure that you do not duplicate information for the nominees.
How will the information I submit be used?
The information submitted in the nomination form will be viewed by the judging panel. For those that progress to the awards ceremony, extracts of the information provided and any images supplied, will be used in the event programme and to introduce the finalist.
When can I submit nominations?
Nominations will be open between 1 April and 22 June 2024. Late nominations cannot be accepted.
What happens if I’m shortlisted?
Notifications will be sent out to shortlisted candidates in July 2024. This will be followed up with additional information regarding the awards ceremony.
If I’m shortlisted and can’t attend the event, can I send someone else in my place.
We know that it might not always be possible through illness or other commitments for shortlisted candidates to attend. If you would like to send someone else to represent you, then that is fine, but do make it clear to the event team. If you cannot attend and do not wish to send a representative, we will make arrangements with you to collect any awards or certification at another time.
I would like to sponsor the event in some way, who can I speak to?
You can contact Cultural Manager Charlotte Steels via csteels@blcgroup.co.uk
If I have any further questions, who do I contact?
You can contact Cultural Manager Charlotte Steels via csteels@blcgroup.co.uk
