We’re delighted to share that Streetwise Opera has been shortlisted for the Manchester Culture Awards 2025 in the Best Event category for our Re:Discover Festival.

Re:Discover celebrated African and Caribbean heritage through the voices of people with lived experience of homelessness. The event featured a short opera on The Bridgewater Hall’s main stage: The Rescue: Escape The Dream, with music by Lavender Rodriguez, libretto by Paterson Joseph and direction by Amy Hailwood. The festival also offered a vibrant weekend of performances, discussions and exhibitions that highlighted Black classical composers and challenged perceptions of both homelessness and opera.

The awards, organised by Manchester City Council, recognise outstanding cultural and creative activity across the city. Winners will be announced at a ceremony on Saturday 22 November 2025 at the Manchester Deansgate Hotel.

This nomination follows our Royal Philharmonic Society Award win in the Impact category for Re:Discover in March 2025.

Streetwise Opera previously won a Manchester Culture Award in 2018 for Promotion of Health & Wellbeing.