CHAMPIONS of the local arts scene were celebrated at the annual Reading Cultural Awards with a glittering ceremony on June 27.
Nearly 600 nominations were submitted for the 2018 edition, which culminated in the awards being handed out to worthy winners at the Olympia Ballroom.
Successful projects included a play celebrating West Indian cricketer Gordon Greenidge and there was also a special prize for the Rising Sun Arts Centre.
Nigel Horton-Baker, executive director of Reading UK, organisers of the awards, said: “Arts, culture and heritage are at the heart of what makes Reading such a great place to live, work, visit and do business.
"Our 13 winners are great ambassadors for creativity in our town. These awards celebrate the vibrancy, diversity and depth of the whole cultural scene in Reading.”
The full list of winners and finalists:
- The Made in Reading Award, sponsored by Cream Design
Winner - Being Gordon Greenidge, produced by South Street Arts Centre & written and directed by Benedict Sandiford
Finalists - Lillies for Oscar Wilde, Reading Museum, Jelly, Reading Guild of Artists, Two Rivers Press, Whiteknights Studio Trail, Haslams, Reading Museum, Forgotten Heritage, Matt Emmett
- Reading Place of Culture Ambassador Award, sponsored by Reading UK
Winner - Reading Between The Lines theatre company
Finalists - RASPO/Culture Mix Arts, Scottish Pipe Band
- Performance of the Year, sponsored by Jacobs the Jewellers
Winner - Schumann at the Station, Aldworth Philharmonic Orchestra
Finalists - Matilda the Empress, Reading Between The Lines Alby the Penguin Saves Christmas, Reading Rep, Jelly & Reading Libraries, Ben Pedley Memorial Concert
- Visual Arts Event of the Year, sponsored by The Breeze 107 Reading
Winner - Open for Art 2017
Finalists - Whiteknights Studio Trail, Reading International
- Cultural Space of the Year, sponsored by Barton Willmore
Winner - The Oracle Shopping Centre
Finalists - Rising Sun Arts Centre, Museum of English Rural Life
- Celebrating Reading’s Heritage Award, sponsored by Banquet Kitchen / The Olympia Ballroom
Winner - The Shady Side of Town, Reading Tree Wardens and Two Rivers Press
Finalists - Lillies for Oscar Wilde, Reading Museum, Jelly, Reading Guild of Artists, Two Rivers Press, Whiteknights Studio Trail, Haslams and Reading Museum / Reading Abbey Quarter
- Partnership of the Year, sponsored by Grant Thornton UK
Winner - Zap Magazine, Rising Sun Arts Centre, Real Time Video, Spectrum Arts, Neile Wright, Our Time Video, Move Up project.
Finalists - Alby the Penguin Saves Christmas, Reading Libraries, Reading Rep, Oxford Playhouse, Jelly, and Reading College, Being Gordon Greenidge, South Street Arts Centre, the Department of Film, Theatre & Television at the University of Reading, the Barbados and Friends Association of Reading (BAFA) and Reading School.
- Best Education Project, sponsored by The Oracle
Winner - Around the World in 80 Washing Lines, Mahlia Amatina
Finalists - John Madejski Academy, The Partnership Festival, University of Reading
- Festival of the Year, sponsored by Haslams
Winner - Are You Listening Festival
Finalists - Reading on Thames Festival, Reading Carnival
- Young talent under 25, in association with BBC Radio Berkshire
Winner - John Madejski Academy Performing Arts
Finalists - Reading Rep, Calum Cromwell
- Cultural Organisation of the Year, sponsored by Reading Chronicle
Winner - Reading Between The Lines theatre company
Finalists - Aldworth Philharmonic Orchestra, Rising Sun Arts Centre
- Business Champion of the Arts, sponsored by Reading Business Improvement District (BID)
Winner - Reading Buses
Finalists - Broad Street Mall, Oracle Shopping Centre
- Judges Special Award – Outstanding Contribution to the Arts
Winner – Rising Sun Arts Centre
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