Medway celebrated the achievements of its culture and design leaders recently, with many of our friends here at Going on in Medway being recognised in the 2012 Medway Culture and Design Awards.

With eleven categories covering everything from architecture and music to tourism and media, an eclectic and appreciative audience filled the Corn Exchange to witness the best of what’s going on in Medway – and silence the naysayers who’ll tell you there’s nothing here to value.

Fern Alder’s Full Frontal community project was duly recognised in the Open Spaces and Public Realm Award, with them also being awarded the Special Achievement award. Fern instigated the transformation of Rochester’s terraced streets, making floral displays in anything from old shoes to baths and tyres. It’s spreading throughout Medway and even further afield, as communities come together and take pride in their neighbourhood.

With her third award in a row, (Winner for Literature in 2008; Commended for Fashion in 2010) Zara Carpenter cemented her position in Medway’s Creative Hall of Fame (there isn’t one but maybe there should be?) with the upgrade to ‘Winner’ in the Fashion category. She said:

“I had such a lovely night. I was thrilled just to be nominated but to actually win, well I feel very lucky as the other nominees are very talented (I had actually nominated Sian for the award)”

Full results:

Media Winner: Wow Magazine. Shortlisted: coFWD; Viola Films; Medway Eyes; Nightpiece Media; Sailing out of Grain.

Tourism Winner: Rochester Cathedral – The People’s Monarch. Commended: Diggerland Shortlisted: 144 Club and Maritime Festival; Chatham Maritime Marina; Edith May Barge.

Fashion and Design Winner: Zara Carpenter. Commended: Sarah Lee. Shortlisted: Sian Bostwick; Sharon Richards.

Open Spaces and Public Realm Winner: Full Frontal. Commended: Place Making Project – School of Arts. Shortlisted: Chatham Bus Station; Gillingham Gateway; Iron Gym – School of Arts; Shadowplay at the Lido.

Food and Drink Winner: Slim Sam’s Cakery. Shortlisted: Angel Wings Cup Cakes; Cafe Maroc; Kent Fine Foods; Sweet Sonya’s.

Heritage Winner: Royal Engineer’s Museum, Library and Archive. Commended: Minor Canon Row; School of Arts – Historic Dockyard. Shortlisted: LV21; Medway Queen; RSME Bicentenary Bridge.

Music Winner: Orchestra ONE. Commended: 144 Club and Maritime Festival. Shortlisted: Medway Eyes; Ranscombe Studios – Jim Riley; TEA Concerts.

Performing Arts Winner: Icon Theatre. Commended: Dizzy O’Dare. Shortlisted: Element Beyond Gravity; Ri-Zound – Jane Pitt; West End Classrooms.

Literature Winner: Bill Lewis. Commended: ME4 Writers. Shortlisted: Billy Childish; Daniel Taylor; Ruth Jones.

New Build Winner: Strood Academy. Commended: Berkeley First, Walderslade Primary School. Shortlisted: Bellway Homes; Chatham Bus Station; RSME Bicentenary Bridge.

Visual Arts Winner: Billy Childish. Shortlisted: School of Arts – Historic Dockyard; Coalshed Press; Iron Gym – School of Arts; LV21; Rikard Osterlund.

Special Achievement in Urban Regeneration: coFWD

Special Achievement: Full Frontal.

More reports, quotes and pictures about the awards can be found here and here.