Manchester's Royal Exchange Theatre and Contact Theatre along with Chester Performs and Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse have been shortlisted for the 2014 Lever Prize from the North West Business Leadership Team.
The prize, named after Bolton-born soap magnate William H Lever (later Lord Leverhulme), is awarded annually to a world-class arts organisation in the north west and consists of a cash prize plus the chance to work with NWBLT during the winning year. Previous winners have included the Manchester International Festival, Liverpool Biennial, National Football Museum and the current winners Hallé St Peter's.
Geoffrey Piper, CEO of NWBLT, said, "we are very much looking forward to hearing from all the organisations shortlisted. The number of high calibre Lever applications we have received from across the region has increased year on year and is reflected in this impressive shortlist.
"Through their Lever win this year, Hallé St Peter’s have developed a choir competition which is just about to commence—we hope to develop something equally exciting with the 2014 Lever Prize Winner."
Sarah Frankcom, artistic director of the Royal Exchange Theatre, said of the theatre's Future Proof project, the subject of its application, "with our Future Proof initiative, we’re creating more and more opportunities for younger artists and theatre-makers to get involved and to learn and develop their craft. However, space is a challenge. Our existing facilities are no longer adequate: we simply don’t have the right space.”
The five shortlisted organisations, which also include Manchester Museum, will present to a panel of NWBLT members in September, and the winner will be announced at an event in the New Year.