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An access scheme and a climate toolkit for the benefit of the sector were both recognised in the prizegiving at Conway Hall in London on Wednesday (13 May).
Julie’s Bicycle was awarded Best Solution for its Creative Climate Tools, while the combined arts councils of the UK and Ireland were recognised for their Excellent Collaboration on All In, improving the experience of deaf, disabled and neurodivergent people across the nations.
A leader credited with transforming how a gallery welcomes families, an orchestra that made its new home in a comprehensive school, a director of finance and a research organisation are also among the first ever recipients of the Arts Professional Awards.
Winners in full
- Arts Professional of the Year: Chantelle Culshaw, deputy director at Dulwich Picture Gallery
- Finance Professional of the Year: Susan McIntosh, director of finance and commercial at Edinburgh International Festival
- Excellent Business Model Innovation: Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment
- Excellent Partnership/Collaboration: UK and Irish arts councils, for All In
- Excellent Solution: Julie’s Bicycle, for Creative Climate Tools
- Excellent Research or Policy Intervention: Creative PEC, for its State of the Nation reports
Culshaw’s win celebrates her work spearheading the £5 million Open Art capital project, delivered on time and on budget, in a move her organisation said had transformed how it reaches families and children and that helped reshape its “long-term resilience”.
Meanwhile, the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, which in 2020 became the first organisation of its kind to set up shop in a British state school, lifted the prize for Excellent Business Model Innovation.
It beat out fellow shortlisted nominees including Nottingham gallery New Art Exchange and Dulwich Picture Gallery itself.
Susan McIntosh, director of finance at Edinburgh International Festival, secured Finance Professional of the Year.
McIntosh’s six-year tenure has included overseeing a “complex transition” between two pension schemes and a considerable 54% increase in annual income, from £13m in 2020 to £20m today.
A groundbreaking scheme delivered jointly by the British and Irish arts councils took home the Excellent Partnership/Collaboration accolade, for work that has “delivered measurable value”.
Together, the public bodies delivered access scheme All In for deaf, disabled, neuro-divergent and learning-disabled audiences, which is free to users and entirely funded.
Andrew Miller, who recently stepped down as chair of Arts Council England’s Disability Advisory Committee, accepted the award on the behalf of the arts councils.
International non-profit Julie’s Bicycle won the Excellent Solution prize for its Creative Climate Tools, free environmental reporting resources which launched for the sector in 2009.
It was up against the likes of Society of London Theatre and UK Theatre, and Future Arts Centres.
In the last five years, more than 2,000 organisations in some 20 countries have made use of the Julie’s Bicycle framework, “from orchestras and festivals to museums and music venues”, judges noted.
Finally, the Creative Industries Policy Evidence Centre (Creative PEC), led by Newcastle University and supported by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), was recognised for Excellent Research or Policy Intervention.
Its State of the Nation series has produced 14 reports into arts, culture and heritage since Creative PEC was founded in 2018.
Speaking at the prizegiving, Ruth Hogarth, editor of Arts Professional and chair of the judges, said she was delighted at the widespread interest in these awards, with the number and quality of nominations far exceeding expectations.
“The sheer range of submissions, across all aspects of professional life in the sector, enormously impressed the judges and we had some difficult decisions to make,” she said. “But what came across most forcefully from all applicants was the level of passion and commitment for the work. Many congratulations to all.”
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