Aberystwyth Arts Centre have been shortlisted for Best Family Arts Activity at the Fantastic Family Awards 2024 for their Teulu (Family) exhibition held in Gallery 1 back in March 2024. Teulu saw families working with Aberystwyth Arts Centre to co-curate a major exhibition that took inspiration and showed works from our national collections at National Library of Wales, National Museum Wales – Amgueddfa Cymru and the School of Art, Museums and Galleries, Aberystwyth University. It was a project that broke new ground, was innovative and which tried to find new models of working that put the public at the heart of decision-making. At its core, the aim was breaking down the barriers that prevent family audiences from enjoying and taking part in the arts.
Discover the organisations that have made outstanding contributions to family and age-friendly arts and culture in 2023-24. This year’s shortlist for the
Fantastic for Families Awards, organised by Family Arts Campaign, showcases the real innovation, creativity and impact made by cultural opportunities in the UK.
What better way to get to know something than through stories? Family Arts Campaign invites you to explore this year’s 26 Stories of Family Arts, which bring our Awards shortlist to life. Discover how the finalists created opportunities for families and older people to access creative opportunities and improve wellbeing across three categories: Best Family Arts Activity, Best Age-Friendly Outreach, and Audience Impact & Innovation.
Keep reading for facts, or stop right now and delve into the stories for the meaning, human connections and creative sparks behind them.
The Fantastic for Families Awards is an annual programme open to UK-based cultural organisations or cultural activity organisers who provide creative opportunities, activities, or initiatives for families and older people. The Audience and Innovation strand focuses on families in need.
Our nominees excel at creating imaginative experiences and many go the extra mile by supporting families in need, responding directly to the current challenges in the UK such as providing warm spaces, access to healthy meals or helping with welcoming newcomers. Respite, togetherness and shared imagination can go a long way in these challenging times, as the shortlisted organisations demonstrate. These organisations and initiatives are needed now more than ever and we invite you to share their stories in order to amplify their work.
The 2024 shortlist recognises and celebrates the achievements of family arts professionals, through sharing their diverse stories from across the arts spectrum. Their work supports communities and participants including young people struggling with mental health and wellbeing, families with no access to green spaces and elders in end-of-life care.
Want a sneak peek? Our 26 Stories of Family Arts include…
- Co-curating a welcoming art exhibition with and for local families in Aberystwyth
(TEULU / FAMILY Exhibition, Ceredigion)
- Creating safe spaces through stories for LGBTQ families in libraries in East Riding
(Children’s Festival of Words, Yorkshire)
- Creating mobile museum spaces to help support those with reduced mobility
(House of Memories: On the Road, Liverpool) - Bringing heritage to life with Knight School in Bishop Auckland
(TAP into History, County Durham)
- A new playground in a museum, co-designed together with families
(The Cove, London)
- Reconnecting older men to each other and the community
(Celebrating Age Wiltshire: Creative Conversations, Wiltshire)
- Working in partnership to curate inclusive spaces to ensure every family has access to enriching outdoor experiences (Playful Gardens Inclusive Family Play Days, Dundee)
“We are delighted to present the 2024 Fantastic for Families awards shortlist with a truly incredible range of activities and initiatives to improve access to creative and cultural experiences. This year’s nominees celebrate the delight and connectivity that can be found through creative participation, and recognise the dedication of those working in the arts sector to bring safe spaces and joyful experiences to those who need it most.”
- Anna Dever, Executive Director, Family Arts Campaign
The full shortlist of organisations is:
Best Family Arts Activity
This award celebrates high-quality family arts activities suitable for audiences and participants of all ages.
Aberystwyth Arts Centre Gallery – TEULU / FAMILY Exhibition
AsOne Theatre Company – We Came From Ukraine
Autograph – Family SEND Programme
Boo To A Goose Theatre – Storm In A Teapot
East Riding Libraries – Children’s Festival of Words
Family Choir Club – Family Friendly Concert
Jellyfish Theatre – Jellyfish Community Touring
Taking Flight Theatre – Summer Programme 2023
The Auckland Project – TAP into History
The Point Eastleigh x The House of Many Moons – Timothy The Yeti
The Together Project – Songs & Smiles
The Whitworth – PLAYTIME
Theatre Hullabaloo – Hullabaloo in the Park
Travelling Light Theatre Company – Igloo Performances & Play Sessions
Best Age Friendly Outreach
This category recognises outreach approaches, provided specifically for older people, such as age-friendly activities, events, creative resources, or broader forms of support and outreach.
Barnsley Libraries – Telling Stories
Create – art:links
Helix Arts – Falling On Your Feet
National Museums Liverpool – House of Memories: On the Road
Step Change Studios – Let’s Dance
Wiltshire Music Centre – Celebrating Age Wiltshire: Creative Conversations
Audience Impact and Innovation Award
This award recognises the achievements of creative organisations or cultural event organisers who have demonstrated innovation and adaptability to reach and make a difference to families in need.
Little Angel Theatre – The Welcome Project
National Maritime Museum – The Cove
Playful Gardens – Inclusive Family Play Days
Polka Theatre – Take Your Seats
Tangled Feet – Belongings
Travelling Light Theatre Company – Free Creative Holiday Activities and Meals
Fantastic For Families Awards are given by Family Arts Campaign, the national Investment Principles Support Organisation for arts engagement and families, funded by Arts Council England.
The winners of the Fantastic For Families 2024 Awards will be announced in an online ceremony on 28 November 2024. Book your free tickets here.
Visit the Fantastic For Families 2024 Awards page to find out more.
