Developing and investing in creative industries and the arts in England.

Home
About us
Skip About us sub navigation
Our offices
- Head office
- East
- East Midlands
- London
- North East
- North West
- South East
- South West
- West Midlands
- Yorkshire
Funding
Skip Funding sub navigation

Grants for the arts

Download Grants for the arts guidance

Eligibility

Apply for Grants for the arts online
Publications
Skip publications sub navigation
- Browse all publications
- Browse all information sheets
Search publications Search publications

Arts Council Stakeholder Focus Research

The Arts Council's ongoing Stakeholder Focus research has been running since 2009. The findings from ...

Achieving great art for everyone consultation report

In 2009, Arts Council England embarked on a major consultation on its thinking towards a ...
Artforms
Skip Artforms sub navigation

Arts Council Collection 2008–09

New Acquisitions 2008–09

The Arts Council Collection supports artists in this country through the purchase and display of their ...
- Dance
- Music
- Literature
- Theatre
- Combined arts
- Visual arts
Our work
Skip Our Work sub navigation
Browse all case studies

The Late Shows

The Late Shows is an inspiring, after dark programme of events and exhibitions centering on ...

From The Tiger Who Came to Tea to Mog and Pink Rabbit

This exhibition, which celebrates the life and work of children's writer Judith Kerr, took place ...

Other Arts Council websites
News & press
Skip News & Press sub navigation

Press office

Arts Council England announces findings from the Achieving great art for everyone consultation

Arts Council England has today published the findings from Achieving great art for everyone - a consultation on its 10 ...

Go to the virtual press office

Browse all news

Brand new Pegasus youth theatre reopens following a £7.4 million rebuild

One year on and £7.4 million later, the new Pegasus Theatre opens to the public …

Search news Search news

Home
News & press
art08 – a celebration

art08 – a celebration

Date: 18 December 2008
Region: North West

2008 has been an amazing year for the arts and culture in the north west – and the art08 Awards were held as a celebration of that year.

Hosted by comedian Dave Spikey at the Contemporary Urban Centre in Liverpool, the event was organised by Arts Council England, North West in partnership with the Northwest Regional Development Agency.

Five category winners were announced, as well as an outstanding achievement award, which went to Paul Hartley.

Paul had been named as winner of the Unsung Heroes category for his work with young people in Lancashire, and was shocked at that – and staggered later on, when he was given the Outstanding Achievement Award, which comes with a £10,000 contribution towards his work.

Paul worked with young people on Channel 4’s Big Art project, creating greyworld, a series of works that bloom into full colour when hit by ultraviolet light.

He plans to use the prize money to continue engaging young people in the area, working with Elevate, the housing market renewal pathfinder for East Lancashire, and Creative Partnerships.

He says: ‘I couldn’t believe it when I won. I was thrilled to be nominated, like people always say, but there’s no way I thought I’d win – in all honesty I was just viewing it as the chance to have a good night out in Liverpool!

‘I suppose like a lot of people who work in the arts, I thought I was just doing my job, a job that I love – but it is wonderful to get the recognition for that, it is a huge boost both personally and professionally.’

As for the future, the extra cash will be used to keep up the good work. He says: ‘Getting young people interested is the easy bit – it’s keeping them interested that counts! I want to get more young people thinking more deeply about how they can be involved in the regeneration of their communities, and examining the role that art can play in that.’