For any artists living in or around Manchester then check out the ‘Best Of Manchester Awards 09′. Not only is it a chance of getting a little publicity there is also a decent prize fund for the winner.

Organised by Urbis, the annual awards celebrate innovation in art, music and fashion. Anyone working within the fields of music, art and fashion, and who lives or works in Greater Manchester, can enter and stand the chance of having their work judged by a panel of 24 industry experts that includes Peter Saville, Wayne Hemingway, the Turner Prize winning artist, Jeremy Deller, Tim Marlow (White Cube,London), Miranda Sawyer, Yvette Livesey (In The City) and Luke Bainbridge (Observer Music Monthly).

For those working in the creative sector, The Best of Manchester Awards are more than a pat on the back from the industry. They’re about more than the winners’ £2,000 cheque and a major exhibition at Urbis. The awards are a chance for the winners to kick-start their career with the kind of contacts and professional development that money can’t buy.

Entry is online at www.urbis.org.uk/thebestofmanchester