Creative Times

TURNING THE SPOTLIGHT ON MANCHESTER’S MOST CREATIVE MUSICIANS, FASHION DESIGNERS AND ARTISTS

The Best of Manchester is back. Organised by Urbis, led by Peter Saville and judged by a panel of industry experts, the Best of Manchester Awards spotlight the work of Manchester’s creative professionals. There is no age limit, no hype and no rules: just the best creative thinking by the best creative professionals working in Manchester today.

The annual awards celebrate innovation in three fields: art, music and fashion. Entry was via an open competition, with entrants encouraged to submit work that was genuinely new, exciting and innovative. Over 250 creative professionals entered – an increase of 65% on last year’s inaugural awards.

Some of the biggest names in art, music and fashion joined Peter Saville at Urbis to sift through the entries, including the broadcaster and critic, Miranda Sawyer; Luke Bainbridge (Observer Music Monthly); Caroline Elleray, Head of A&R at Universal Music Publishing; the Castlefield Gallery’s Kwong Lee; David Mallon, the fashion brains behind Ringspun and Elvis Jesus; and Tim Thomas of Manchester’s Blueprint Studios.

‘The competition is very simple,’ said Peter Saville. ‘It’s a showcase of ideas. Manchester is full of people coming up with great concepts but those people aren’t getting the opportunities they deserve. The Best of Manchester is a chance to uncover the ideas of a city known for its creative thinking.’

‘There are plenty of competitions out there for young people,’ confirmed Urbis Chief Executive, Vaughan Allen. ‘But there’s very little for those who’ve spent years grafting at the coalface of the creative industries. It’s easy to champion young people, and easier still to celebrate it when they make it big. But what about those left in the middle? The Best of Manchester is a chance for Manchester to recognise and support its creative professionals when they need it most – when they’re on the verge of making it to the next level of their career.’

The exhibition of shortlisted entrants’ work opens on 8 August (until 28 September), with the winners announced by Peter Saville at an awards ceremony on 7 August.

More information can be found at www.urbis.org.uk/bestofmanchester.