FutureEverything CIC has scooped this year’s prestigious £10,000 Lever Prize award
06/01/2010
A Manchester-based arts and cultural organisation became the fifth organisation to receive the annual accolade at an exclusive awards ceremony at Urbis, Manchester.
Drew Hemment, Director of the 2010 Lever Prize winners FutureEverything, receiving the 2010 trophy from the North West Business Leadership Team's Geoffrey Piper and a seasonal visitor.
Despite the wintry weather the award was presented to Drew Hemment, FutureEverything CIC director, by the North West Business Leadership Team, who sponsor the award with support from Arts and Business North West and the North West Regional Development Agency.
The Lever prize, launched five years ago, aims to revive the philanthropic traditions of the industrial past, embodied by soap magnate and patron of the arts, Lord Lever.
Each year it is judged by the North West Business Leadership Team, which comprises of the 30 largest companies in the region, in partnership with Arts and Business North West.
The award is not just for arts groups, but buildings, events, festivals, libraries and archives. In addition to the cash prize the award opens the door to a year long collaboration with the region’s top business leaders.
Accepting the award, Mr Hemment, said: "We are absolutely delighted to be awarded this prestigious prize and this is a fantastic opportunity to work with key major businesses in the North West.
"2010 is a crucial year for our organisation. After 15 years championing cutting edge digital art and culture, this is the year that our international festival is reborn with a new name that captures vision and ambition, FutureEverything.
“The FutureEverything Festival of Art, Music & Ideas brings together artists, technologists and future-thinkers to share, innovate and bring the future into the present.
“We commission and produce work across all art forms that experiment with emerging technologies and social innovation. The 2010 Lever Prize is a fantastic accolade that will help us to deliver the festival to its highest standard.”
Geoffrey Piper, chief executive of the North West Business Leadership Team, said he was delighted to announce FutureEverything CIC as the overall winner.
He said: “FutureEverything CIC is one of the North West’s most up and coming cultural organisations with a strong track record of successful partnerships and a clear strategy for growth and development.
“FutureEverything CIC was a runner up last year and it was great to see such a strong entry again this year.”
He added: “FutureEverything is an outstanding winner of this annual award, presented jointly by NWBLT and Arts & Business North West with support from the NWDA. They are a very worthy successor to previous winners Liverpool Biennial, Manchester International Festival, Tate Liverpool, and most recently The National Football Museum whose Lever Prize year has been the most successful on record.
“The Lever Prize judges were unanimous in selecting FutureEverything CIC who will now enjoy a year-long programme of collaboration with leading businesses throughout the region.
“We look forward to working together to help raise the profile of the Festival and assist the Future Everything team to further its aims in 2010
“It promises to be a very exciting and significant year.”
Brenda Parkerson, regional director of Arts & Business North, said: “Arts & Business figures show that the private sector is currently worth £686million to culture in the UK.
“Too often the contribution of the private sector is written out of the script.
“The Lever Prize adds real value to the culture offer and that is why we are delighted to partner NWBLT member companies today to celebrate this year’s winner of the Lever Prize: Future Everything.
“We must work together here in the North West to ensure that the British mixed economy model is not damaged by the recession and we can all continue to enjoy our region’s cultural richness.
“Our own new research figures show over 60% of smaller arts bodies are experiencing a fall in business investment so we are especially delighted that FutureEverything has been awarded this unique opportunity to collaborate with NWBLT member companies.”
Peter Mearns, executive director of Marketing and Communications at the NWDA, said: “Each year the Lever Prize highlights the strengths and diversity of the region’s cultural and arts organisations.
“There is a huge amount of work being done to develop the arts and cultural sectors across the Northwest, all of it having a significant impact on our economy.
“I’d like to offer my congratulations to FutureEverything; the organisation has a great track record of innovative work so I’m sure it will forge some exciting collaborations in 2010 as a result of this prize.”
Liverpool based Everyman and Playhouse , The Whitworth Art Gallery and NOISE Festival Ltd in Manchester all received runners up certificates.
Previous winners include Liverpool Biennial in 2006, Manchester International Festival in 2007 and TATE Liverpool 2008.
Promoting the Region's Advantages
FutureEverything CIC has scooped this year’s prestigious £10,000 Lever Prize award
06/01/2010
A Manchester-based arts and cultural organisation became the fifth organisation to receive the annual accolade at an exclusive awards ceremony at Urbis, Manchester.