Creative Lives Awards

Celebrating the achievements of community-led creative groups

The Creative Lives Awards celebrate the creative groups that enhance people's lives in villages, towns, and cities across the UK and Ireland. Since 2010, we've invited community-led groups to share their activities and achievements, so that we can give you a well-deserved moment in the spotlight.

Our Award winners all use creativity to bring people together. Groups might take part in singing, dancing, painting, crafting, performing, playing music, or any other creative activity. All of them provide vital opportunities for people to find community, express their creativity, make friends, learn new skills, boost their wellbeing - and have fun together!

The 2024 Creative Lives Awards are now open for entries!

Learn more and check your eligibility

Please read our rules and guidelines, and check the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs), before you start filling out your application form.

Enter the Creative Lives Awards

You can either complete your application form online, or by downloading the form and returning it to us via email at [email protected].

Application form for the Creative Lives Awards 2024 (online)
Application form for the Creative Lives Awards 2024 (.docx)

The closing date for applications is 11.59pm on Monday 13 May 2024.

Please get in touch at [email protected] if you have any further questions, if you need further support completing your application, or if you need any of the information or forms in a different format. Good luck!

A Celebration of Humanity

Want to learn more about the Creative Lives Awards? You can read about some of our previous winners below and the wonderful work they do, or check out a list of our recent winners here. We hope they will inspire you to tell us all about your group!

Snappy Valley

2021 Creative Lives Award Shortlist

With its name playfully referencing ‘Happy Valley’, the TV show shot in the nearby area, Todmorden-based photography collective Snappy Valley used to meet monthly to explore different topics and set assignments for each other.

During lockdown, the collective moved online – initially to provide support for each other. But as the months passed, they began to document their personal lockdown experiences through photography. Regional, national and international photographers were invited to the online sessions to share their skills and set mini-projects for the group, including fine art photography, documentary, photojournalism and fashion.

"Online meetings offered some sense of normality for participants during a time of disorientating collective uncertainty. As a result, the group has created strong and considered images that reflected their own individuality, but also represented Todmorden and its residents." Lasma Poisa, Snappy Valley

Learn more about Snappy Valley

The small group meet at The Golden Lion a pub and community hub in Todmorden at varying times.