Recognising the people and organisations redefining how the arts work.
The Arts Professional Awards celebrate excellence in leadership, financial stewardship, innovation and collaboration across the arts and cultural sector.
Launched at the Business of the Arts Summit, these awards shine a light on those building stronger, more resilient and more imaginative business models for culture.
From visionary individuals to organisations breaking new ground, the awards honour those turning challenge into opportunity and ensuring the long-term sustainability of the arts.
The award categories
Awarded to an individual.
Recognising an outstanding arts leader or manager who has demonstrated exceptional vision, impact and professionalism. This award celebrates individuals who have strengthened their organisation or the wider sector through bold thinking, strategic clarity and practical delivery.
Awarded to an individual. Nominees may be put forward to this award and Arts Professional of the Year simultaneously.
Celebrating excellence in financial leadership within the arts. This award recognises a finance professional who has gone beyond stewardship to enable growth, resilience and innovation – supporting creative ambition through robust, forward-looking financial strategy.
Awarded to an arts culture organisation.
Honouring an organisation that has introduced innovation in its business model. Whether through new revenue streams, structural change, innovation in EDI, digital transformation or creative approaches to funding, this award celebrates sustainable innovation that strengthens long-term impact.
Awarded to an arts or culture organisation and their partner.
Recognising a powerful partnership that has delivered measurable value. This award celebrates collaborations that combine skills, resources or audiences in new ways – unlocking growth, widening reach or achieving outcomes that would not have been possible alone.
Awarded to an arts/culture organisation or supplier.
Celebrating any project, product, service or initiative that helps organisations in the arts to access an opportunity, or to overcome a problem in the business of arts and culture. This award recognises practical solutions that improve efficiency, increase income, reduce costs or risk or open up new opportunities.
Awarded to a researcher, academic, lobbyist, organisation, company, or in-house insights professional.
Recognising outstanding research or policy work that has led to meaningful change for the arts and cultural sector. This award celebrates evidence-led interventions that have influenced decisions, improved practice, shifted understanding, or delivered measurable impact – through clear insight, strong methodology, and effective communication to the right audiences.
Judging
We’re excited to share the news of our judging panel – make sure you’re on the mailing list to be the first to hear!