Best Creative Business Award

Apr 17 2009 The Journal

This award recognises and celebrates the achievement of a cultural and creative business which has demonstrated innovation and business creativity, good business practice, determination to succeed and commercial success

KITCHENWARE RECORDS

The Newcastle-based record business was founded in the basement of an HMV store in 1982 and today employs four full-time staff. As well as making records it also publishes music and manages artists. Over the years, the firm has helped develop some of the biggest names in the industry such as the Lighthouse Family, Prefab Sprout and Editors. The company has sold more than 15m records over the years, scored several top 10 hits and its current leading artist Editors notched up the firm’s first number one album.

FIFIEFOFUM

This fine art gallery based at Westside Farm in Newton, Stocksfield-on-Tyne, Northumberland, has been established since 2003. Set up in a disused farm building, the gallery has grown impressively over the years and through a growing national recognition of the standard of work on display, national promotion and development of a variety of initiatives, now employs five people and has a turnover approaching £250,000.

THEATRE ROYAL

Established in 1788, Newcastle’s largest theatre employs 40 full-time and 50 part-time staff. When it was first awarded its Royal Licence by the 'mad' King George III, the theatre was situated on Mosley Street and in 1837 it opened on Grey Street as a flagship building of Richard Grainger's new city plan. Today the theatre’s business model combines the provision of world-class performing arts productions with a range of other community services, acting as a catalyst for artistic creation in the region.