Award Categories
There are 11 award categories that you can vote on as part of the Norfolk Arts Awards 2023. Here’s some information about each award, including details of previous award winners to give some additional context.
1: THE BUSINESS AND THE ARTS AWARD
Sponsored by St Francis of Assisi Catholic Primary School
This award celebrates a Norfolk-based business that has gone above and beyond to support local artists and projects. Previous award winners have included Norwich BID’s Head Out, Not Home project in partnership with NORCA & Sistema; Michael Rooney, chair of Break charity; and Marion Catlin, arts facilitator.
2: THE DICK CONDON THEATRE AWARD
Sponsored by The Garage
This award is for exceptional theatre whether that be a company, a venue, a project, or an individual. Previous nominees and award winners include: The Common Lot for creating original, free outdoor shows for, with and about the people of Norwich; and Beverley Bishop’s Finding Magic, a poignant one-woman show, exploring her progression through grief, healing and acceptance after the loss of her son, Jess.
3: THE VISUAL ARTS AWARD
In Association with Norwich University of the Arts
This award celebrates excellence in the visual arts world and can be any form of art from sculpture to photography, to painting or mixed media. Previous nominees and winners include: Gennadiy Ivanov, a UK-based artist, originally from Belarus, working with a wide variety of media including paintings, installations, drawings and photography; and Norfolk & Norwich Open Studios – a free annual event where artists and makers across the county open their studio doors for 16 days in May and June, and invite the public to come inside.
4: THE JARROLD NEW WRITING AWARD
Sponsored by the John Jarrold Trust
This award is for outstanding new writing, whether that be for an individual writer or playwright, a larger-scale project, or even an organisation that promotes new writing in Norfolk. Previous winners and nominees include: The National Centre for Writing and Sarah Perry, for her novel Melmoth.
5: THE MUSIC AWARD
Sponsored by Norwich School
This award is for brilliance in music in Norfolk whether for an individual singer songwriter, a band, choir, orchestra, or even a high school, college or university music department. Previous winners and nominees include: Aude Gotto, founder The King of Hearts; and Sharon Andrea Choa, conductor and director of music at UEA.
6: THE BROADCAST & MEDIA AWARD
Sponsored by the University of East Anglia
This award is for a broadcaster/presenter or media company, or publication that has delivered excellence. Previous winners and nominees include: Gary Stanley, Producer of the BBC Voices at BBC Radio Norfolk; and Fiona Ryder, founding director of Mustard TV.
7: DR FRANK BATES DANCE & MUSICAL THEATRE AWARD
Sponsored by Jane Hawksley, relative of Dr Frank Bates
This award celebrates distinction in dance and musical theatre whether that be dancers, choreographers, dance and musical theatre schools or teachers. Previous winners and nominees include: dance practitioner, Lorraine Theobald; and Sanctuary On The Fault Line, an earth-wide network of professional women dancers, dancing for local audiences in the wild.
8: THE DIVERSITY AWARD
Sponsored by Norwich Arts Centre
The Diversity Award celebrates organisations or individuals who are working to promote diversity in their shows, projects, or in their audiences. Previous winners and nominees include: Katy John Went, a writer, speaker and activist on gender, equality, inclusion and more, and coordinator of the UK Human Library project; and Sascha Gosling, a Norwich-based freelance producer focusing on circus, outdoor arts, accessible theatre and puppetry – founder of Norfolk Black & POC Creatives Network.
9: THE EDUCATION & COMMUNITY AWARD
Sponsored by Norwich Theatre
The Education & Community Award celebrates an arts organisation or project that does exceptional work to engage their community and offer a world-class education in the arts. Previous winners and nominees include: Norwich Puppet Theatre’s Creative Engagement Team for producing high quality theatrical experiences and creative skills sessions for all ages; and Lucy Farrant for her work on Young Norfolk Arts and her work as freelance producer and facilitator of the arts.
10: THE OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION AWARD
Recognition for an individual or organisation who has made a significant contribution to the arts in Norfolk. Previous winners include Adam Yaxley (Engagement & Inclusion Manager at The Garage) and the UEA Creative Writing programme.
11: THE EDP LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
In association with the Eastern Daily Press
An award to celebrate a body of work of an individual who has dedicated their career to the arts in Norfolk. Previous winners include Ian Woods and Caroline Richardson.