Published on 24 May 2019
Sunderland Culture was a big winner thanks to some very tall ships that arrived outside the University last summer.
The 13th annual Culture Awards ceremony took place amid music and noisy celebration at Middlesbrough Town Hall on Thursday.
First staged in 2007, the Culture Awards highlight the best of the year’s achievements in arts and culture across the vibrant and creative North East.
And the University-backed Tall Ships event proved one of the star winners after it clinched the Best Event Sunderland award, as well as Best Overall Event.
Graeme Thompson, the University's Pro Vice-Chancellor and Sunderland Culture board member commented: "It was good to see so many Sunderland events and artists as finalists in the region’s most prestigious culture awards. The partnerships in the city between the University, the City Council, the MAC Trust and projects such as the Cultural Spring are producing exceptional performances, exhibitions and community engagement."
Photographer Fiona Crisp emerged from a strong field to take the award as Visual Artist of the Year for her exhibition which reopened the Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art at its new home in National Glass Centre on the University's Sir Tom Cowie Campus at St Peter's.
The awards, run by The Journal and The Gazette and in association this year with Middlesbrough Council, were presented in Tees Valley for the first time, with the refurbished Town Hall proving the perfect venue.
Music during the evening was provided by Sunderland band Vandebilt, singer and guitarist Sam Rea, from North Tyneside, and Newcastle-based rapper Kay Greyson who had a terrific night, also winning the award for Newcomer of the Year.
ALL THE WINNERS
Performance of the Year: Don’t forget the birds, Open Clasp and Live Theatre
Performing Artist of the Year: Brian Lonsdale and Bryony Corrigan
Visual Artist of the Year: Fiona Crisp
Writer of the Year: Laura Lindow
Newcomer of the Year: Kay Greyson
North East Museum of the Year: Woodhorn, Northumberland
Best Event Durham: The Man Engine, Willington
Best Event Northumberland: Berwick Film and Media Arts Festival
Best Event Sunderland: Tall Ships Races 2018
Best Event Tees Valley: Erimus
Best Event Tyneside: Great & Tiny War
Best Overall Event: Tall Ships Races 2018
Arts Council Award: Southpaw Dance Company
Best Arts & Business Partnership: Unfolding Theatre and xsite architecture
Special Award for Youth Achievement: Colour to the Grey leadership group
Special Contribution to North East Culture: Dave Budd