Fantastic for Families Awards 2021 – Shortlist Announced!
Something to celebrate as Fantastic for Families Awards recognise UK’s best arts and culture organisations
Family Arts Campaign are pleased to announce the shortlist of arts activities, initiatives and organisations that have delighted families in their Fantastic for Families Awards 2021. The awards celebrate the wealth of outstanding creative provision for families across the UK and the achievements of those who have made an outstanding contribution to family-friendly arts and culture during the pandemic year
Now in its eighth year, the awards will celebrate the extraordinary creativity and resilience that the cultural sector has shown during the global pandemic.
In the last year, we have experienced huge challenges to develop and deliver creative experiences and content for families. Despite this, cultural providers have adapted their work to create fantastic activities, resources and programmes for families of all backgrounds and ages.
The Fantastic for Families Awards also celebrate the remarkable efforts to continue providing older generations with creative and social opportunities during the pandemic.
This year, despite difficulties faced by the sector, we received over 140 applications – a record-breaking number for the awards and testament to the remarkable achievements of family arts professionals in continuing to support families and older audiences with cultural provision.
Anna Dever, Head of Family Arts Campaign, said: “After such a challenging year, the Fantastic for Families Awards are a brilliant opportunity to celebrate the creativity, innovation and resilience that the arts and cultural sector has shown during the pandemic. The organisations nominated, and all those who applied, are wonderful examples of how creativity and cultural engagement can bring joyful moments of collaboration and connectivity in difficult times.”
Tonya Nelson, Area Director, London, Arts Council England, said: “Culture and creativity have helped uplift, entertain and unite families of all backgrounds and ages over the course of the pandemic. This is largely thanks to our country’s great cultural organisations and individual creatives who, during this challenging time, have embraced new opportunities to innovate and adapt their activities to safely reach audiences. Many with support from the Government’s Culture Recovery Fund. We’re so pleased that this year’s Fantastic for Families Awards are able to recognise some of this brilliant work and we’d like to congratulate all organisations recognised on the shortlist.”
The shortlisted organisations are:
Best Family Arts Activity
This category focuses on family arts activities delivered during the Covid-19 pandemic. This award recognises both digital and non-digital approaches, delivered remotely or in person.
- Flamingo Chicks – Ground Breaking Virtual Classes
- LS18 Rocks – Virtual Hugs (There’s No One Quite Like Grandma)
- M6 Theatre Company – When We Started Singing
- MK Gallery – Art and Us Sensory Boxes
- Starcatchers – Wee Inspirations
- Swaledale Festival – Swaledale Festival’s Family Fun Weekend
- The Gramophones Theatre Company – Aidy the Awesome & Superpowering Girls and their Grannies
- Tramshed Arts – All Together Now
- Tutti Frutti Productions – Sweet Dreams
- Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums – Ways to Play
- V&A Dundee – Design Busters
- Whitworth Art Gallery – PLAY Live
- Wigmore Hall – Chamber Tots at Home
Best Age Friendly Outreach
This award recognises forms of outreach approaches developed specifically for older generations, such as participation in age-friendly activities or broader forms of support and outreach during the pandemic.
- ARC Stockton
- Leeds Playhouse
- Moving Together Dance
- Norwich Theatre
- Philharmonia Orchestra
- Royal Exchange Theatre
- Southbank Centre
- Corn Exchange Newbury
Audience Impact & Innovation
This award recognises the achievements of creative organisations or cultural event organisers who have demonstrated innovation and adaptability to make a difference to families in need during the pandemic.
- Dundee Contemporary Arts
- Barnsley Museums
- Lakeland Arts
- MK Gallery
- Oily Cart
- Chichester Festival Theatre
- Theatre Hullabaloo
- Live Music Now Wales
The 29 shortlisted organisations will now have their nominations reviewed by a panel of expert judges from the creative sector, who will decide the final winners across each of the three award categories.
The winners of the Fantastic for Families Awards 2021 will be announced in a virtual ceremony on 16 November 2021. Tickets are free and all are welcome to join – click below to book your ticket now!
The Fantastic for Families Awards ceremony will take place following the first day of the Family Arts Online Conference 2021 (16-17th November). Further information about the conference and Early Bird ticket options can be found here.
Image credit: Chichester Festival Theatre, Manuel Harlan
9 September 2021