Norfolk's cultural champions are set to be celebrated at the annual Norfolk Arts Awards.
The ceremony, part of the Hostry Festival and in association with Eastern Daily Press, will be at Norwich Cathedral's Hostry on October 20, and ahead of this finalists in 10 of the award categories have been revealed.
The will also be a Norfolk Icon accolade and Outstanding Contribution and Lifetime Achievement awards presented on the night - as well as our EDP People's Choice Awards for which we ask people to nominate and vote for their favourite stars of the arts.
Stash Kirkbride, who co-founded the Norfolk Arts Awards with Peter Beck in 2012, said the awards aimed to honour individuals and organisations that help make our county's arts scene so vibrant.
Mr Kirkbride, the Hostry Festival's artistic director, said: 'The Norfolk Arts Awards are about celebrating people and projects in Norfolk that make a difference to all of our lives culturally throughout the year.
'We are very proud to be able to present the awards event, but more importantly to make sure that all these people who beaver away throughout the year are celebrated in all the different categories.'
The 2017 finalists include:
The Business and the Arts Award - sponsored by Fosters Solicitors
• Marion Catlin has been a champion of Norwich's arts scene for many years. She helps people develop and deliver projects and promotes them under the banner Culture Shift. She also publishes the guides Art in Norwich and Music in Norwich.
• The Shoe Factory Social Club, on the St Mary's Works site in Norwich, has provided a unique, new arts venue for Norwich which has resulted in exceptional performances and events being put on that may otherwise not have been possible.
The Theatre Award - sponsored by Norwich City College
• Vic Young is a key figure in Norwich's Great Hall Theatre Company which has thrived under his leadership, including securing charitable status and becoming resident theatre company at the Assembly House.
• Jo Edye co-founded Crude Apache in 1994 and was the driving force behind the theatre company's recent season at The Shoe Factory Social Club which included a dystopian Richard III and a politically charged revival of Howard Brenton's Magnificence.
The Visual Arts Award - sponsored by Norwich University of the Arts
• Paint Out Norwich was the idea of James Colman who has been the driving force behind the development of the open air art project which sees artists celebrating Norwich in paint and creating stunning cityscapes.
• Beverley Gene Coraldean is a Norwich-based illustrator whose work is rooted in the local community, including being one of the GoGoDragons! artists and designing one of the murals for the Norwich BID mural project.
The Jarrold New Writing Award - supported by the John Jarrold Trust
• Elly Griffiths is the author of books including the Dr Ruth Galloway novels, a long-running mystery series which sees the forensic archaeologist title character tour Norfolk, for example, The Outcast Dead starts with Dr Galloway excavating a body from the grounds of Norwich Castle while The Woman In Blue takes her to Walsingham.
• Frances and Michael Holmes have written and published many books celebratings Norwich's rich heritage and covering a range of topics including Norwich Market, the old courts and yards, and the city's shoe trade.
The Music Award - sponsored by Norfolk Music Hub
• KlangHaus is a part art installation part gig created by Norwich based art-rock band The Neutrinos and Great Yarmouth born visual artist Sal Pittman which has wowed crowds at Edinburgh Festival Fringe, London's Royal Festival Hall and at home in Norwich.
• Mammal Hands is a Norwich-based trio of musicians - Nick Smart (piano), Jesse Barrett (drums and tabla), and Jordan Smart (saxophones) - that has carved out a growing following for the band's hypnotic fusion of jazz, folk and electronica.
The Broadcast and Media Award - sponsored by the University Of East Anglia
• Becky Jago and Jonathan Wills are co-presenters of ITV News Anglia. Becky has presented the news bulletin since 2005 and Jonathan since 2008.
• Susie Fowler-Watt and Stewart White have been co-presenters of BBC Look East for many years. Susie is also a columnist for EDP Norfolk magazine and Stewart presents Sunday Politics for BBC East.
Dr Frank Bates Dance and Musical Theatre Award
• Lynn Ireson and Daniel Smith are key members of Sound Ideas Theatre Company whose 2016/17 shows have included Urinetown, Into The Woods and Sweeney Todd, The Warehouse Experience.
• Matilda Zeigler and Richard Allain are director in residence and director of music respectively at Norwich School and the duo have specifically been nominated for the school production of Sweeney Todd.
The Diversity Award - sponsored by Norwich Arts Centre
• Eyebrow Arts devise and facilitate exemplary creative projects for adults with learning disabilities, older people and people with dementia to encourage self-expression and wellbeing.
• Sink Ya Teeth are a Norwich based, dance-infused, post-punk minimalist duo, who have gained huge support for their debut single - the bass-driven electro-groove If You See Me - and are currently undertaking a national tour.
The Education and Community Award - sponsored by Ten Group
• Barrington Farm is a unique, independent centre in Stalham for adults with learning difficulties and at the heart of the centre is the Art Barn which encourages artistic expression and supports the artists to participate in exhibitions and other cultural activities in the wider community.
• Lucy Farrant is the driving force behind Young Norfolk Arts Trust which celebrates the creativity of young people across the county by offering opportunities all year round. Its biggest event is the Young Norfolk Arts Festival every summer.
The Peter Barrow Bursary Award
• Alexander Banks is the founder and creative director of Norwich-based The Moss Banks Company which presented shows including A Christmas Carol and Gaslight under has the banner Moss Banks Productions and has set up The Moss Banks Drama Group for young people.
• Matthew Freeman recently graduated from the production arts course at City College Norwich and from September will study theatre technology at Guildhall School of Music and Drama.
For more about the Norfolk Arts Awards, including how to book tickets for the ceremony, visit www.norfolkartsawards.org
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here