Do we apply for a particular category or award? Expand No, just submit a single application or nomination. We want to hear from creative projects and initiatives across the UK and Ireland and hear about your resilience, what you have done and what it meant. These entries will then be assessed and a range of different awards will be allocated by our judges based on what stands out from different entries.
Who are the Creative Lives Awards for? Expand The Awards recognise engagement, partnership, innovation and creative development across voluntary and community-led projects and groups; often shining a spotlight on those ‘unsung’ heroes who lead and sustain creative cultural activity for the benefit of others. The awards are intended to be as inclusive as possible. Please tell us how we can advise or support you with an application or nomination if need be.
What about the pandemic? Expand Creative Lives is aware of the extraordinary efforts that projects and groups have undertaken to remain resilient and sustainable in the face of restrictions. We want to hear about these stories.
Our arts organisation ran an engagement project with a community – are we eligible? Expand Yes - the important thing is that the initiative and running of the project was predominantly by volunteers.
Our project includes some paid staff – are we eligible? Expand Yes, as long as volunteers played a significant role in the planning and delivery of your project.
Does it matter that our group has previously been shortlisted or won a Creative Lives Award (or Epic Award)? Expand No - previous entrants, including winners and runners-up, are welcome to apply again.
We received some funding to support our project – are we eligible? Expand Yes. Please acknowledge all sources of funding where appropriate.
Does it matter how our group is constituted? Expand Being constituted as a group is not a requirement. The Creative Lives Awards celebrates the activity that has happened and impact that it has made.
Why is it worth entering the awards? Expand Learn from some of the previous winners themselves... Rachel Parry, Goldies Cymru - Epic Awards Wales winners, 2017“Winning the Epic Award was a wonderful occasion. Hearing about the other incredible organisations out there doing fantastic work in all sectors was humbling. It was such a proud moment for the charity to receive this award and to be recognised for the hard work that everyone does.”Guy O’Donnell, Get the Chance - Epic Awards, Celebrating Diversity Award recipient, 2017 “Get the Chance was honoured to be selected as Runner-up in the Celebrating Diversity Award. We strive to reflect the diverse nature of society in our voluntary membership. We learn from our team about barriers to sport and cultural provision and seek to work together to provide responses which are representative of all citizens in the UK.”Sarah Goodey & Kate Mercer, Art on the Hill Newport - Epic Awards Wales winners, 2020“We enable participants to celebrate who they are, to promote themselves and their resources in our community, without prerequisite or agenda, other than to champion the cultural profile of Newport. It was a wonderful surprise to win the Epic Award, and the team felt very boosted by this, the generous award and support in-kind. All of the projects nominated have community and togetherness at their core, and it means more to be alongside such amazing projects across the UK. We all learnt a lot very quickly and hopefully made some new friends and potential partners.”