Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram has launched this year’s Liverpool City Region Culture and Creativity Awards, which will be hosted by Halton, as nominations open for the awards’ third successive year.

Cllr Mike Wharton, Halton Council Leader and Liverpool City Region Combined Authority Portfolio Holder for Culture, said: “Halton is delighted to be hosting this year’s awards as the final part of our Borough of Culture celebrations. It’s also the first time I’ve been involved in the awards as the Portfolio Holder for Culture so it’s a really exciting year for us.

“I’d like to encourage people across the Liverpool City region to enter themselves or nominate the projects you feel have made a big difference in the last year.”

To enter, the activity must have taken place between 13 November 2020 and 12 November 2021. Nominations can be completed online and the closing date for entrants and nominations is Friday 12th November 2021.

After this date the judging panel will shortlist the finalists for each category from the nominations received. For the People’s Choice Award – Outstanding Contribution to Culture, the Liverpool City Region community will then be able to vote for their chosen winner.

Nominees must live, study and/or work in the Liverpool City Region (e.g. Halton, Knowsley, Liverpool, Sefton, St Helens and Wirral) or have created work/projects that significantly benefit the residents or visitors to the Liverpool City Region and/or has positively contributed to the development of the local economy.

Co-Chair of the Cultural Partnership, Sir Phil Redmond, said: “When we introduced these awards, the aim was to encourage and recognise creativity wherever it occurred, not restricted to what are traditionally known as arts and culture.

“Creativity occurs under a microscope as much as a spotlight; within a workshop as much as a studio; to produce a cad drawing as much as an artist’s sketch. Creativity occurs in our daily interactions, it helps shape us, and builds the culture that bonds us. So, be creative in spotting creativity and nominate anyone or anything that needs wider recognition.”

The LCR Culture and Creativity awards were created as part of the Metro Mayor’s Percent for Culture initiative, to recognise the value and power for change that the arts, cultural and creative sector can bring in reinforcing the city region as one of the most vibrant and exciting places to live, work, study, visit or do business.

The ceremony will take place on 2 March 2022 and more details will be revealed in due course. To nominate or for more information go to www.lcrcultureawards.co.uk