(Above) Staff and friends of the National Football Museum, which won the Lever Prize in 2009. Picture courtesy Ant Clausen Photography
The Lever Prize, the £10,000 competition for arts groups in the North-West, has opened for entries for the 2010 award.
Chosen by judges from the North West Business Leadership Team, a collective involving 28 of the region's largest companies, the fifth year of the annual accolade follows the National Football Museum in Preston's victory last year, with other previous winners including Liverpool Biennial, Manchester International Festival and Tate Liverpool.
"2010 promises to be a very exciting and significant year for art and culture and in particular for the winner of the Lever Prize," said NWBLT Chief Executive Geoffrey Piper, promising to use the panel's acumen to boost the profile of the "fantastic" range of local arts organisations.
Buildings, events, libraries and archives are eligible to apply before the end of June, with a shortlist announced in August and the final round of judging taking place in Liverpool in September. Entries will be scored on a range of strengths, including distinctiveness, quality of work, future developments and creativity.
Kevin Moore, Director of the National Football Museum, said the Prize had given his team an invaluable opportunity to work with major businesses.
"The Museum is built on foundations of partnership working for mutual benefit, and we are now extending this with the region's top companies," he said.
Peter Mearns, of new sponsors of the award, the North West Regional Development Agency added, "England's North-West is one of the most creative and culturally dynamic regions in Europe and part of its success is down to the unique relationships that exist between our cultural organisations and the business community.
"The Lever Prize is a great way to highlight and build on these successful relationships."
Visit the Lever Prize online for entry forms and further details.
