Cultural Enterprises Awards Shortlist Reveals Outstanding Showcase of Innovation and Best Practice in Cultural Income Generation

The Association for Cultural Enterprises is delighted to announce an incredible line-up of Finalists in this year’s Cultural Enterprises Awards, an inspirational showcase of talent, ingenuity, success and best practice in cultural income generation.

Promoting commercial best practice within the cultural sector has never been more important given the urgent need for the sector to maximise income streams and identify new sources of money making. The Cultural Enterprises Awards provide a unique platform to showcase commercial excellence within the cultural sector and perform an essential role in providing inspiration and ideas on maximising income streams to all types and sizes of arts, heritage and cultural organisations.

A record-breaking number of entries were received this year, testament to the outstanding work in commercial innovation happening across the sector.  A total of 45 entries have been shortlisted across 15 categories covering all areas of commercial activity including retail, catering, ticketing, visitor experience, marketing, events, filming and venue hire, as well as individuals, teams and sector support organisations. The wide-ranging shortlist represents all types and sizes of cultural organisations across the UK including museums, galleries, historic houses, theatres and cathedrals.

 The entries were judged on key criteria including innovation and success, as well as best practice in environmental sustainability and equity, diversity and inclusion. The judging was carried out by a panel of well-known and highly respected industry experts from across the cultural sector and beyond, all chosen for their extensive experience and expert knowledge.

James Dwyer, Creative Director, Lumsden Design, judged the Best Shop Award, noting, “Many of the strongest submissions this year were temporary exhibition shops, where compelling themes inspired particularly strong product curation and creative retail experiences. Another clear trend was the number of mini-refits, likely in response to more limited capital investment, that demonstrated focussed and impactful results.”

David Hingley, Head of Arts, Heritage & Culture, Peridot Partners, judged the Rising Star and Team of the Year categories. He said, “I knew there were some fantastic teams and individuals in our sector, but it was really inspiring to read so many outstanding entries for these awards. Commitment, enthusiasm, expertise and innovation shone through in every case.”

Cultural Enterprises CEO Paul Griffiths said, “Each year the Cultural Enterprises Awards shine a light on the incredible creativity, resilience and commercial excellence within our sector, and this year’s Finalists are no exception. From pioneering retail and visitor experience to innovation in digital, catering and partnerships, the shortlisted organisations and individuals demonstrate just how vital cultural enterprise is to the sustainability of museums, galleries and heritage sites. I’d like to thank all those who took the time to submit entries, and our judges for the care and rigour they bring to the process. We’re very much looking forward to celebrating the Finalists and Winners at our Conference in February.”

The winners will be announced at the Cultural Enterprises Conference where the Awards Ceremony will take place on Tuesday 10 February at ICC Birmingham, a wonderful celebration setting the tone for two days of commercial insights, inspiration and networking.

See the full shortlist at: culturalenterprises.org.uk/awards