Play to the Crowd, the arts and education charity that runs Theatre Royal Winchester, Hat Fair and Playmakers, has been awarded the inaugural Creative and Cultural Award at this year’s Winchester Business Excellence Awards.
The awards, organised by the Winchester Improvement District (BID), The Hampshire Chronicle and Hampshire Chamber of Commerce, recognise the best and brightest organisations in the Winchester district.
The Creative and Cultural award was a new category in the Winchester Business Excellence Awards and was sponsored by Winchester City Council. The award was accepted by Deryck Newland, Kirstie Mathieson and Andrew Loretto on behalf of Play to the Crowd from Cllr Lucille Thompson at the awards dinner held at Winchester College on 1 June.
“We are honoured to be the first recipient of the Creative and Cultural Award,” says Deryck Newland, Chief Executive of Play to the Crowd. “Thanks to the judges for awarding this to us. Particular thanks to Winchester City Council for supporting this new award and for recognising and understanding that cultural activity and creativity are integral to a vibrant community as well as vital for the social and economic health of a city.
“This award is for every single member of the Play to the Crowd family – they are all incredible at what they do and each play a vital part in our mission to delight and unite.”
Mark Byford, Chair of Trustees of Play to the Crowd, adds: “The Creative and Cultural Award is a wonderful and fitting recognition of all the hard work and passion that the whole team generates and the great impact we make in the city and beyond.”
“We are so thankful to the Winchester business community who have been so incredibly supportive to the charity over the last couple of years as we continue to recover from the pandemic,” continues Kirstie Mathieson, Communications and Development Director. “It feels very humbling to be recognised for our efforts in this way.”
Deryck Newland was also shortlisted as a finalist in the Business Leader Award.
- In Common is not for profit. We rely on donations from readers to keep the site running. Could you help to support us for as little as 25p a week? Please help us to carry on offering independent grass roots media. Visit: https://www.patreon.com/incommonsoton