Stars of our county's arts scene have been honoured at an awards ceremony celebrating Norfolk's champions of culture.
The 2014 Norfolk Arts Awards in association with the EDP took place at Norwich Cathedral's Hostry on Friday night.
Among the winners were Norwich Arts Centre, Norwich-based choir The Voice Project and Dereham-based dance teacher Tina Vallance, who were all presented with EDP People's Choice Awards that were voted for by our readers.
The University of East Anglia was presented with the Lifetime Contribution to the Arts Award for its half a century of championing emerging creative talent and presenting a great variety of cultural events and entertainment.
Meanwhile young performer Rachel Graham, recently seen in The Garage's production of The Jungle Book, was given the Peter Barrow Bursary Award for Best Newcomer. The rest of the awards spanned the entire spectrum of Norfolk's rich arts scene.
Peter Beck, Norfolk Arts Awards producer, said: 'It's great to see another collection of worthy winners for the coveted Norfolk Arts Awards. In the end all of the nominees are winners, as are the arts in general in Norfolk.'
He said it was wonderful to hear about all the great arts achievements across the county.
'I wonder whether there are many places outside London or Manchester that value their arts as much as Norfolk does,' he said.
On the night there were also performances by Norwich Young People Theatre Voices and the Thursford Spectacular Singers.
The Norfolk Arts Awards is part of the annual Hostry Festival which runs until November 2.
Visit www.hostryfestival.org
WINNERS OF THE 2014 EDP PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARDS, PART OF THE NORFOLK ARTS AWARDS
• EDP People's Choice Award - best small to mid-scale venue, festival or organisation
Norwich Arts Centre presents a varied and vibrant programme of live music, theatre, live art, comedy, live literature, new media and photography, and it is also committed to creating opportunities for the development of new talent.
Norwich Arts Centre director Pasco-Q Kevlin said: 'This award means the absolute world to a small arts organisation and I think what it really demonstrates is that we are still working very hard to ensure that the people of Norfolk and Norwich have a venue that they can be proud of.'
• EDP People's Choice Award - best large venue, festival or organisation
The Voice Project - which also won this category last year - is a Norwich-based open-access singing project created by Sian Croose and Jonathan Baker. Hundreds of singers have been involved in Voice Project performances, and the group performs each year at the Norfolk and Norwich Festival.
Mr Baker said: 'It feels amazing to have won an EDP People's Choice Award for a second time. I am absolutely flabbergasted.'
• EDP People's Choice Award - best individual
Tina Vallance, founder of Dereham-based Jaya Dance, grew up experiencing colourful festivals such as Diwali and Holi. With Jaya Dance she shares her passion for Indian dance styles and gives people the chance to experience Bollywood and Bhangra dancing.
WINNERS OF THE 2014 NORFOLK ARTS AWARDS
• Lifetime Contribution to the Arts Award - sponsored by the Maddermarket Theatre
The University of East Anglia has contributed to the creative landscape in Norfolk for more than 50 years. It has helped to produce some of the country's finest writers and performers, as well as programmed thousands of cultural events.
• Peter Barrow Bursary Award for Best Newcomer
Rachel Graham has shown great potential in the performing arts. She was most recently seen playing Shere Khan in the Jungle Book at The Garage in Norwich.
• Theatre Award
UEA 50 Years production of Darkle saw UEA Drama and Minotaur Theatre Company revive Bill Gallagher's award-winning and darkly comic play 25 years after its first performance.
• Music Award
David Dunnett's extensive music career includes being organist and former master of the music at Norwich Cathedral, and also Norwich Philharmonic Society's choral conductor.
• Theatre Education Award – sponsored by Norwich Theatre Royal
Charlotte Arculus is Theatre of Adventure creative director, music and arts team lead at the Priory Children's Centre in Great Yarmouth, a core member of Music Feast early years music network.
• Education and Community Award – sponsored by The TEN Group
Norfolk Black History Month offers a rich educational and entertaining programme for all promoting African, Asian and Caribbean culture.
• The Visual Arts Award – Sponsored by Stew Gallery
Adam Batchelor is a Norfolk artist whose work explores the relationship people have with nature.
• Dance and Musical Theatre Award
Dance artist Laura McGill is passionate about creating more dance opportunities for audiences and artists, and currently runs youth dance company Full Tilt and Mosaic, for people over 50.
• Business and the Arts Award – sponsored by Hansells
Norwich independent publisher Galley Beggar Press has supported a number of local writers, including award-winning writer Eimear McBride.
• The Hy Kurzner Arts Entrepreneur Award – supported by Valerie Kurzner
Wymondham Music Festival began as a small series of concerts, and quickly expanded to become the festival it is today.
• Broadcast and Press Award – sponsored by Newsmakers PR
Ian Collins, the EDP's former arts correspondent, now writes freelance articles and has written several books. He was curator of Masterpieces: Art and East Anglia at the Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts.
• Jarrold New Writing Award – supported by The John Jarrold Trust
Eimear McBride's first novel, A Girl Is A Half-formed Thing, was put away for about a decade but, after being published by Galley Beggar Press, it has gone on to receive much acclaim and win major awards.
• The Sevenwolves Fashion and Costume Design Award
Chloe Fuller has been named Norwich University of the Arts' Fashion Student of the Year, and UK Fashion and Textiles Association features one of her garments in its top 12 examples nationwide of student fashion design work.
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