Friday November 21st 2025
Creative Edinburgh Awards 2025
Written by Midlothian View Reporter, Liam Eunson
The Creative Edinburgh Awards returned last Friday, spotlighting individuals and organisations who are leading the forefront of creativity in the capital.
Receiving over 100 nominations and shortlisting 35 finalists, the evening of celebration was hosted at Central Hall, welcoming in hundreds of attendees to celebrate Creative Edinburgh’s mission of recognising creatives who are often not seen.
Hosting their 13th annual celebration, the event marked another successful year of celebrating Edinburgh’s creative community with eight award categories covering a wide range of creative practices up for grabs. These awards included, a collaboration award, a community award, a development award, an inclusion award, an innovation award, a leadership award, a student award and a festival award.
Each award had certain criteria for entry with all nominations having not won an award in the past two years, based in Edinburgh or have an impact on Edinburgh’s creative industries and must have demonstrated a clear impact in the city, alongside only being submitted for a maximum of two awards.
Creative Edinburgh became part of Creative Scotland’s Regurlarly Funded Organisation’s Portfolio back in 2017 and have since received an annual grant funding to support their core services and awards night. Being a registered charity, they aim to ‘protect the welfare of Edinburgh’s creative community’, alongside unite thinkers across the capital through events, support and their annual awards ceremony.
With their awards night hosted last Friday, the annual celebration aimed to highlight and celebrate the capital’s most impactful creatives through public nominations that allowed members of the public to celebrate people who they believe are worthy of recognition.
Starting at 6pm, the awards ceremony was a success with Creative Edinburgh’s Executive Director describing the evening as a ‘huge success’ being ‘exactly what Creative Edinburgh strives to continue to do’.
The Executive Director, Ola Wojtkiewicz, said:
“The 2025 Creative Edinburgh Awards were a huge success. From receiving over 100 nominations from across the community, to the independent panel of creatives shortlisting this year’s 35 inspiring finalists and selecting the eight outstanding winners, the whole process leading up to the ceremony has been unforgettable.
“Spotlighting individual creatives and smaller organisations who so often don’t have enough opportunities to be seen and heard is exactly what Creative Edinburgh strives to continue to do.”
One of the awards up for offer was the Student Award, celebrating a student or recent graduate who has founded or worked on a project, or pushed the boundaries of their creative practices alongside their studies.
The winner of the 2025 award was Edinburgh Napier University student and President of Edinburgh Napiers Student Union, Evans Eghan, who was a finalist due to his work surrounding the Edinburgh Napier Film Festival.
Claming the award amongst a strong category of finalists, Evans was celebrated for his creativity in the Edinburgh creative community.
Winner of the Creative Edinburgh 2025 Student Award, Evans Eghan
After receiving his award, Evans told the Midlothian View:
“Last night will surely go down as one of my most memorable nights as I least expected to win the award.
“Sometimes we hope others will do something for us but instead, we find ourselves doing so much for others. Yet, in giving, we receive.
“Every contribution comes back in one way or another, and Friday night, Creative Edinburgh placed a beautiful stamp on my journey so far.”
Following the award, the judging panel expressed their reasoning behind announcing Evans as the winner.
They explained:
“The panel were amazed by this year’s winner’s focus on promoting and inspiring creativity in Edinburgh and felt they demonstrated an impressive achievement while studying and a clear drive to improve opportunities for all.”
The awards ceremony allowed the public a chance to nominate who they believe is deserving of being acknowledged and recognised for their art that impacts Edinburgh’s creative communities, and receiving more than 100 nominations this year, the 2025 Creative Edinburgh Awards successfully celebrated Edinburgh’s creative individuals.
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