The creativity, talent and innovation of Nottingham's young people were celebrated in style at the Young Creative Awards Dinner, hosted by Nottingham College on Thursday 24 September.
The special event brought together award winners, supporters, educators, industry professionals and community leaders for an evening dedicated to recognising the city's next generation of creative talent. Held following the Young Creative Awards ceremony at Nottingham Playhouse earlier this year, the dinner provided an opportunity to further showcase the outstanding achievements of this year's winners and finalists.
Guests enjoyed an exhibition featuring award-winning work, alongside live music and dance performances from talented young creatives. The evening also included networking opportunities and speeches from representatives of Young Creatives Nottingham and Nottingham College, including CEO and Principal Janet Smith, who praised the remarkable creativity and ambition displayed by this year's entrants.
Left - Janet Smith, CEO and Principal of Nottingham College. Photo by Harvey Tomlinson
Right - Jamal Sterrett and Keiran Donelly (Winners)
Organised every year by charity Young Creatives Nottingham, the Young Creative Awards encourage young people aged 11 to 24 from across the city to showcase their talents and gain valuable recognition for their creative achievements. The awards span ten categories: photography, music, film, fashion and textiles, creative writing, dance, design and architecture, animation and digital media, graphic design, and visual arts.
Since their inception, the awards have provided a platform for emerging creative talent, helping young people build confidence, develop their skills and take their first steps towards careers within the creative industries.
This year's competition attracted more than 475 entries from over 20 education settings, demonstrating the depth of creative talent across Nottingham. Winners were announced at an inspiring ceremony hosted by BBC radio presenter and television producer Frances Finn at Nottingham Playhouse in May, before being celebrated once again at Nottingham College's annual awards dinner.
The evening served as a powerful reminder of the incredible creative talent emerging across Nottingham, highlighting the importance of nurturing and championing the city's young artists, designers, performers and storytellers.
Chair of Young Creatives Nottingham, Nigel Cooke said:
“This year marked 18 years of the Young Creative Awards, a unique celebration of multidisciplinary creativity, helping to nurture talent and early careers. Many former winners of the YCAs’ have gone on to forge successful careers and credit the awards with giving them to confidence to believe in their talent. We believe that recognising, celebrating and valuing the potential of human creativity has never been more important, and we’re grateful to sponsors and partners who agree and help make the awards possible.”
Nottingham College Art & Design Curriculum Manager Alex Rayner said:
“The Young Creatives Awards play a vital role in recognising and celebrating the incredible talent, imagination and dedication of young people across Nottingham. Creative opportunities like these help to build confidence, inspire ambition and provide a platform for young artists, designers and makers to share their work with a wider audience.
“The Winners Dinner is a wonderful opportunity to come together and celebrate not only the achievements of individual award winners, but also the vibrant creativity, innovation and potential of young people across our city. It is inspiring to see so many talented young people being recognised for their hard work and creative contributions.”
From left to right: Mandi Chandler (Assistant Principal - High Pavement Sixth Form), Janet Smith (Nottingham College CEO and Principal), Alice Veldtman (YCA Organiser), Nigel Cooke (YCA Founder and Organiser) and Michelle Rensler (Faculty Area Manager at Nottingham College)