Some of the great stars of our county's rich arts scene are set to be celebrated in the Norfolk Arts Awards later this year - and today we can reveal the finalists in the running for these special prizes.

Eastern Daily Press: The annual Norwich Pride parade through the city centre. Picture: Denise BradleyThe annual Norwich Pride parade through the city centre. Picture: Denise Bradley (Image: Archant)

From music to theatre to the written word, a vast array of creative individuals and organisations feature in the shortlist for the 2014 Norfolk Arts Awards, which are in association with the Eastern Daily Press and part of the annual Hostry Festival at Norwich Cathedral's Hostry.

Peter Beck, Norfolk Arts Awards producer, said: 'As ever, it has been a difficult decision for our judges, with so much art and creativity happening in our county.

'The Norfolk Arts Awards has always been about celebrating just some of the work of individuals and groups, who produce exciting, thought-provoking work. Their work enhances our everyday lives, adds to the cultural diversity of our county, and brings us enormous economic benefits.

'Amongst the 2014 nominees you will find organisations that continue to produce great work year after year, but also some new nominees whose work our judges wanted to highlight.'

Eastern Daily Press: Norfolk Arts Awards finalist in the music category: Hemmingway.Norfolk Arts Awards finalist in the music category: Hemmingway. (Image: submitted)

The award ceremony will take place on October 24 at the Hostry. The finalists for 11 of the award categories are revealed below, and on the night the Peter Barrow Bursary Award For Best Newcomer and the Lifetime Contribution To The Arts Award, sponsored by the Maddermarket Theatre, will also be presented.

The three EDP People's Choice Awards, where our readers are asked to put forward their champions of the arts world, are also returning this year and nominations for these awards will open on September 15.

More details about how to nominate will be released nearer the time but the three EDP People's Choice Awards will be for: best individual, best small and medium scale venue, festival or organisation; and best large venue, festival or organisation.

The Norfolk Arts Awards on October 24 will also feature entertainment from Norwich Young People's 'Voices' Choir, Total Ensemble Theatre Company and the choir of the Thursford Spectacular.

Eastern Daily Press: Eimear McBrideEimear McBride (Image: submitted)

• Do you have a Norwich arts story? Email arts correspondent Emma Knights at emma.knights@archant.co.uk

Theatre Award

• Creative Arts East – Wymondham-based organisation bringing professional theatre, music, cinema and cultural opportunities to rural and disadvantaged communities.

Eastern Daily Press: The Masterpieces exhibition being set up at the Sainsbury Centre. Curator Ian Collins studies Ana Maria Pacheco's The Longest Journey. Picture: Denise BradleyThe Masterpieces exhibition being set up at the Sainsbury Centre. Curator Ian Collins studies Ana Maria Pacheco's The Longest Journey. Picture: Denise Bradley (Image: copyright: Archant 2013)

• Norwich Playhouse – programmes a great variety of theatre, comedy, music, dance, cabaret, literature and education projects.

• UEA 50 Years production of Darkle – UEA Drama and Minotaur Theatre Company revived Bill Gallagher's award-winning and darkly comic play 25 years after its first performance.

Music Award

• David Dunnett – an extensive music career, including being organist and former master of the music at Norwich Cathedral, also Norwich Philharmonic Society's choral conductor.

• Hemmingway – Norwich-based Indie rock outfit who released the EP Real Love in December.

• Norwich Baroque - specializes in lively interpretations of Baroque in some of the region's most beautiful buildings.

Theatre Education Award – sponsored by Norwich Theatre Royal

• Charlotte Arculus – 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.

• Bergh Apton Community Arts Trust Mystery Play Cycle – 12 villages and local schools created the production inspired by 15th century Mystery Plays.

• ART Artistic Realisation Together - King's Lynn Arts Centre, Youth Exchange England and France (Reunion Island), and Erasmus are behind this cultural exchange project connecting young people from Norfolk and Reunion Island, in the Indian Ocean.

Education and Community Award – sponsored by the TEN Group

• Norfolk Schools Project – Norwich Theatre Royal project where pupils create an opera to perform on the stage.

• Norfolk Black History Month – an educational, entertaining programme for all promoting African, Asian and Caribbean culture.

• Norwich Pride – annual celebration from the LGBT community for everyone, features an array of entertainment including the Pride Parade.

The Visual Arts Award – Sponsored by Stew Gallery

• Chris Calderwood – recently completed artistic residency with the John Innes Centre entomology department, his first solo exhibition at The Forum mixed photography and sculpture.

• Tony George – has created opportunities for artists by turning unused Norwich shops into studios and galleries.

• Adam Batchelor – a Norfolk artist whose work explores the relationship people have with nature.

Dance and Musical Theatre Award

• Sarah Lewis Dance Education – works with people of all ages, classes and groups have included Big Sky Dance, North Norfolk Youth Dance Company, D4dance, and contemporary technique and creative classes.

• Laura McGill - a dance artist passionate about creating more dance opportunities for audiences and artists, currently runs youth dance company Full Tilt and Mosaic, a group for people over 50.

• Mixed Voice and its Night at the Musicals production – Mixed Voice aims to bring together East Anglia's finest performers to create West End inspired events. Night at the Musicals was performed in Norwich and Dereham in April.

Business and the Arts Award – sponsored by Hansells

• Galley Beggar Press – Norwich independent publisher which has supported a number of local writers, including award-winning writer Eimear McBride.

• The Rees Consultancy - supports Sistema in Norwich which aims to inspire young people with music.

• Targetfollow – has supported arts projects for many years, including exhibitions at Norwich Theatre Royal.

The Hy Kurzner Arts Entrepreneur Award – sponsored by Valerie Kurzner

• Culture Works East - uses the creative arts to engage young people and adults, and has strong industry links.

• Wymondham Music Festival – beginning as a small series of concerts, it quickly expanded to become the festival it is today.

• Tony Britten/Capriol Films – Peace and Conflict - since being founded by Tony Britten, the company has produced many films, including Peace and Conflict which is about composer Benjamin Britten.

Broadcast and Press Award – sponsored by Newsmakers PR

• Ian Collins – the EDP's former arts correspondent, Ian now writes freelance articles and has written several books. He was curator of the Masterpieces: Art and East Anglia exhibition at the Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts which attracted more than 45,000 visitors.

• BBC Radio Norfolk's Stephen Bumfrey Show - the show has a long record of inviting people from the arts world on the show, from major stars at the Theatre Royal to grass roots events in the village hall.

• ARTSeast Magazine – Diss-based publication focussing on arts in the region.

Jarrold New Writing Award – supported by The John Jarrold Trust

• Eimear McBride – her first novel, A Girl Is A Half-formed Thing, was put away for about a decade but, after being published by Galley Beggar Press, went on to win major awards.

• Emma Healey - the Norwich-based author's debut work Elizabeth Is Missing, published by Penguin, features an elderly narrator suffering from the onset of dementia and who needs to find a missing friend and solve a mystery from her own past.

• UEA School of Literature, Drama and Creative Writing – its courses have produced a remarkable group of writers including Ian McEwan, Rose Tremain, Kazuo Ishiguro and John Boyne.

The Sevenwolves Fashion and Costume Design Award

• SHhhh Collective – Norwich-based clothing brand creating products from organic cotton and showcasing emerging designers.

• Chloe Fuller - 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.

• Tina Loder Ties - the North Norfolk-based designer's menswear career spans nearly 30 years, and she recently designed her third silk tie collection.