Fantastic for Families
Awards 2023

Celebrating 2023’s winners of the Fantastic for Families Awards

We are pleased to announce the winners for the annual Fantastic for Families Awards for 2022-2023.

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.

We initially shortlisted down to 24 organisations and arts providers from across the UK, and you can discover all 24 stories of Family Arts engagement here or scroll down to discover this year’s winners. You can also find more fantastic organisations near you in the Fantastic for Families Directory.

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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 creative activities and events that have been developed for families.

Maths on Toast

Fun Family Maths
Maths on Toast ran monthly events in libraries and community centres, inviting families to play with maths through creative activities.
Read more.

Motionhouse

Starchitects: An adventure in space
Starchitects offers a fantastic opportunity to introduce children (3-10 years) to high quality dance-circus in an age-appropriate format.
Read more.

Northern Stage

Best Summer Ever
A month-long festival for young people aged 8-15 and their families, focusing on addressing holiday hunger and the lack of safe, local activity. Read more.

Sanskruti

Apple ‘N’ Spice
Apple ‘N’ Spice brings together two stepmothers, one from the Indian tale of Ramayana and the other from Snow White.
Read more.

Best Age-Friendly Outreach Winners

This category recognises age-friendly activities, events, projects and support for older people.

Doncaster
Culture
Services

History, Health and Happiness
A programme of community-based wellbeing activity. Activities take place within the most deprived communities in Doncaster, with the highest levels of poor health and isolation.
Read more.

Royal
Exchange
Theatre

The Dream Project
Older African and African Caribbean diaspora people worked together to create a storytelling performance called Dominoes and Dahlias (+Oware!).
Read more.

Audience Impact & Innovation Award Winner

This award recognises the achievements of creative organisations or cultural event organisers who have demonstrated innovation and adaptability to reach and make a difference to families in need.

The Whitworth
& Afrocats

Afrocats x Whitworth
A partnership that launched in February 2022 to reimagine how the Whitworth connects with local families in a more accessible, inclusive and equitable way. 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.

Image credits:
Header: Motionhouse, Starchitects. Photography by Dan Tucker
Banner: Sanskruti Cambridge CIC, Apple ‘N’ Spice
Please click through to individual pages to see any image credits

Discover the full shortlist for the Fantastic for Families Awards 2023