WINNER: The NewBridge Project

THE NewBridge Studio project in Newcastle provides a supportive and communal atmosphere for emerging artists with an emphasis on creative development.

Newcastle University graduates Will Strong and Will Marshall set up the artist-led Community Interest Company, PopUp Initiative, in 2010, to develop the project, which offers room for almost 50 artists in residence.

Alongside the studios, which were previously occupied by lawyers and accountants, they are running a street-level gallery space, hosting a monthly programme of publicly accessible exhibitions of studio holders’ work.

They have a rent-free lease on the building, benefiting from legislation whereby landlords who let an empty building to a non-profit-making organisation qualify for an 80% reduction in the business rates owed to the local authority.

The authority, in turn, can claim the bulk of the shortfall back from the Government.

Will Marshall said: “It’s fantastic to receive recognition for The NewBridge Project; having been shortlisted for Best Arts and Business Partnership has made us feel proud of what we have achieved so far.

“Since starting the project in August last year we have developed studios for over 40 artists and are looking to extend this number in a couple of months.”

FINALIST: Shipley Lates and IKEA

IN 2009, IKEA joined Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums’ Business Partnership, supporting the work of museums and galleries, including the Shipley.

Through a shared commitment to accessible excellence in design, IKEA and the Shipley have fostered a relationship over the past year, collaborating on a variety of projects.

For the first time in 2010, IKEA sponsored the Shipley Lates, an innovative programme of four, free after-hours events at the Gateshead gallery, aimed at the Shipley’s target 18-40 audience.

This year’s Lates welcomed cutting- edge designers to talk about their practice, and gave visitors the opportunity to participate in design-led activities.

Sponsorship from IKEA meant that the Lates could be free to all visitors, in keeping with the Shipley’s commitment to accessibility. It also influenced the programme, enabling high profile speakers to be invited to give talks.

Amy Barker curator at the Shipley, said: "I am thrilled that the Shipley Lates have been shortlisted for a Journal Culture Award. We have been delighted at the success of these events.

"The Shipley Lates attracted many new visitors to the Gallery, to enjoy the range of talks, hands-on activities and exhibitions on a Friday night.

"Recent events have included Fashion Fix featuring a paper dress fashion parade and Design Overtime showcasing the work of celebrated IKEA hackers Studio Superniche."

FINALIST: Fififofum and Patricia J Arnold & Co

WHEN the sponsorship of Tyne Valley gallery FiFieFoFum’s annual wildlife workshop and exhibition became a casualty of government cuts, a nearby firm of accountants came to the rescue.

Patricia J Arnold & Co in Hexham met the costs of accommodating a dozen visiting artists from the Society of Wildlife Artists (SWLA) in the youth hostel at Seahouses, making the residency – and resulting exhibition possible.

Sue Moffit, owner of Fifiefofum said: "We were absolutely delighted to receive the phone call regarding this award; it was completely unsolicited and to be honest a real surprise.

"Running a rural business can be quite isolating and we have to try especially hard to ensure that visitors are sufficiently attracted to travel out to the Gallery. We have no "passing traffic".

"Our collaboration with the Society of Wildlife Artists and accountants, Patricia J Arnold & Co, enabled us to achieve this added attraction and to build upon the relationship we have with the Society to continue to bring internationally recognised artists to work in Northumberland’s diverse landscape.

"This partnership also resulted in the artists donating a piece of work that they made on location to a charity auction at the Hexham Abbey Charity Gala Dinner.

"So successful was the partnership, that we have already discussed the possibility of working again together in the future on a different project."