Council team scoops top culture award

Published Tuesday, 19th December 2023

Staff at Hartlepool Borough Council are celebrating after being named as winners at the 16th North East Culture Awards.

The authority’s Tall Ships team won the prestigious Arts Council Award for its creative, music and heritage programme at The Tall Ships Races Hartlepool 2023 event which attracted hundreds of thousands of visitors over four days in July.

The judges praised the programme as “brilliantly diverse” and gave a special mention to Jonny Hannah's colourful year-long project and exhibition Shipbuilders and Fisherfolk which, they said, had engaged with many Hartlepool residents and local venues.

“The programme in its entirety brought to life Hartlepool's past and present to shine a light on its bright, creative future,” they said.

More than 400 nominations were submitted across 12 categories for this year’s hotly-contested awards, and the winners were announced at a ceremony at The Fire Station in Sunderland.

(left-right): Participation and Strategy Manager Daniel Garthwaite; Andy Kelly (Music Programmer); Sarah Scarr, Head of Service (Heritage and Open Spaces); Ian Gardiner, Head of Service Active and Creative Hartlepool; and Stella Hall (Creative Programmer) receive the award from Jane Tarr, Regional Director Arts Council England.

(left-right): Participation and Strategy Manager Daniel Garthwaite; Andy Kelly (Music Programmer); Sarah Scarr, Head of Service (Heritage and Open Spaces); Ian Gardiner, Head of Service Active and Creative Hartlepool; and Stella Hall (Creative Programmer) receive the award from Jane Tarr, Regional Director Arts Council England.

Councillor Bob Buchan, Chair of the Council’s Adult and Community Based Services Committee, said: “I don’t think we will ever forget the amazing four days that were The Tall Ships Races Hartlepool 2023. It was a truly fantastic event from start to finish, and the creative, music and heritage programme was key to that. My congratulations go to everyone involved on winning this award, it is well deserved.”

Gemma Ptak, Assistant Director (Preventative & Community Based Services) and Tall Ships Event Director said: “We are absolutely delighted to have won this significant regional award. It reflects the skill, professionalism, hard work and time spent by so many people from within the Council, across the town and beyond in putting together and delivering an ambitious programme which proved popular with both local residents and visitors from further afield. I would like to pass on my thanks to everyone who contributed to this success.”