Creative Lives Awards People's Choice Award
The winner of the 2022 Creative Lives People’s Choice Award is the Bridgwater Guy Fawkes Carnival
Creative Lives, the registered charity that champions community and volunteer-led arts activity, is delighted to announce the winner of this year’s Creative Lives Award under its ‘People’s Choice’ category is the Bridgwater Guy Fawkes Carnival, the UK’s oldest carnival. The voting saw a total of just under 12,500 votes cast by members of the public.
Bridgwater Guy Fawkes Carnival is one of the largest illuminated carnival processions in Europe and takes place every November in Somerset. In 2022, the many clubs that make up the carnival procession put aside their rivalries to collaborate on Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee Pageant. Over 200 people of all ages from across the carnival community volunteered their time to make it happen enabling new friendships to be made.
Dave Stokes, Publicity Director for Bridgwater Guy Fawkes Carnival said: “We are absolutely delighted and thrilled to win such a prestigious national Creative Lives Award. It makes it even more special for us knowing it’s been voted for by members of the public.
There is no doubt that Jubilation really captured the mood of the nation at the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Pageant, and following the sad passing of Elizabeth II just a few months later, the royalty themed carnival cart brought an even greater significance and purpose.
” He added: “The ‘carnivalites’ involved with the Jubilation project will never forget the experience and have fond memories which will last a lifetime. The cart represents everything which is great about Bridgwater Carnival, the Somerset Carnivals, and the South West, and on behalf of everybody involved with the project, we would like to take this opportunity to thank every single person who voted for Jubilation. Your help and support is very much appreciated.”
At a ceremony held on Tuesday 7 March at the award-winning event venue, Aspire, 12 creative groups across the UK and Ireland were recognised for creative engagement within their local communities.
Other winners recognised in the awards ceremony included Mental Inkness, joint winner of the Peer Award for Excellence along with Bristol Beacons: Different Beginnings, voted for by groups on the shortlist; and African and Caribbean Elders in Scotland, who won the Celebrating Diversity Award, chosen by Creative Live’s Equalities Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Panel.
