Fantastic for Families
Awards 2022

Celebrating 2022’s winners of the Fantastic for Families Awards

We are pleased to announce the winners for the annual Fantastic for Families Awards for 2021-2022.

These award-winning organisations represent the outstanding opportunities created by the arts and culture sector for families and older audiences to access creative opportunities and enhance wellbeing.

The 2022 Awards saw more entries than ever before with so many inspiring stories from across the UK. We initially shortlisted down to 30 organisations and arts providers, and you can discover all 30 stories of Family Arts engagement here or scroll down to discover this year’s winners.

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The Fantastic For Families Awards celebrate the wealth of outstanding creative provision for families and older audiences across the nation.

Best Family Arts Activity Winners

This award celebrates high-quality family arts activities suitable for audiences and participants of all ages.

Aurora Theatre

Hidden Treasures
A game-like theatrical experience for any local park, using augmented reality and guided by a narrative voice and sounds triggered by GPS. 
Read more.

Halpern Charitable Foundation:
Nucleus Arts

Medway Fun Palace 2021
The biggest Fun Palace yet full of arts and science! Read more.

Imaginate

Family Encounter Programme
The Family Encounter Programme provided free theatre and dance in several outdoor locations across the city as part of Edinburgh International Children’s Festival. Read more.

MK Gallery

Sensory Exhibition Tours
Sensory tours have enabled families to connect with art using their own sensory language, through music, object handling, dressup and play. Read more.

Peut-Être Theatre

Audiomoves
The Audiomoves Podcast opens magical worlds for young audiences and transports them to a wider world of unlimited ‘maybe’. Read more.

Best Age-Friendly Outreach Award Winners

This award recognises outreach approaches provided specifically for older people, such as age-friendly activities, events, creative resources, or broader forms of support and outreach.

Age Exchange

Caring Together Service
The Age Exchange Caring Together Services are designed for older people who live with dementia, providing meaningful, sensory activity, music, movement, craft, and reminiscence. Embracing the universal joy of creativity.
Read more.

Leeds Playhouse

Armley Comedy Club
The Club is part of a three year Comic Relief funded creative outreach project for marginalized older people. Held weekly for older men to make new friends, have a free lunch and have a laugh.
Read more.

Audience Impact & Innovation Award Winners

This award recognises the achievements of creative organisations, producers and artists who have demonstrated innovation and adaptability to make a difference and reach families in need.

Collar & Cuffs Co

Toddington Village Sensory Trails
The trails provided a year-long programme of free sensory, inclusive, and socially distanced outdoor activities. They encouraged walking for wellbeing, creative engagement with natural spaces, and were intergenerational and accessible for people with complex needs. Read more.

The Whitworth

Still Parents
The Still Parents exhibition, the first of its kind, opened at The Whitworth in September 2021, creating a platform to share personal stories, open conversations and break the wall of silence that continues to surround baby loss.
Read more.

Directory

Fantastic for Families
From festivals and theatre companies to galleries and museums, in our directory you’ll find 1000+ organisations bringing eye-boggling creative events, activities and initiatives to life across the UK.

Sector Support

Family Arts Campaign
Work in the arts industry? Find out more about our work to support you. Dive into our resources library, commit to the Family Arts Standards or create a Family Arts Network in your area.

Discover all 30 Stories of Family Arts from the 2022 Awards Shortlist