Deutsche Bank Awards for Creative Entrepreneurs Celebrate 30 Years of Driving Positive Social Impact in Partnership with MeWe360

The Deutsche Bank Awards for Creative Entrepreneurs (DBACE), in collaboration with MeWe360, announced the winners for 2023, marking a significant milestone as they celebrate 30 years of honoring and supporting outstanding creative entrepreneurs who make a positive social impact through their businesses across the UK.

The five outstanding entrepreneurs selected each year are granted the opportunity to bring their visions and business goals to life. This year’s changemakers were unveiled during a special award ceremony held at The Royal Society of Arts. The event was hosted by Arts, Culture, and Entertainment Correspondent Brenda Emmanus OBE, with a keynote speech from Farooq Chaudhry OBE, Co-founder of the Akram Khan Dance Company.

Brenda Emmanus OBE shared her insights, stating, “By integrating creativity into business, we can address societal challenges while forging ahead with new and innovative ideas. Nurturing and supporting creative entrepreneurs ensures a future where inspiration thrives, norms are challenged, opportunities are created, and problems are solved. By celebrating this collective talent, we can imagine a world where communities and society as a whole witness progress – a better world for all of us.”

The winners received a collective prize fund of £60,000 along with tailored business support and leadership development worth £100,000 from MeWe360’s network of industry mentors, consultants, and vibrant creatives. Additionally, six strong candidates will be awarded a 12-month incubator membership with MeWe360, offering comprehensive business and leadership support and training.

This year’s DBACE winners were selected for their exceptional commitment to driving positive societal change through creative enterprise:

  1. Artistry Youth Dance – A London-based youth dance company empowering young individuals of African and Caribbean heritage while fostering a more culturally diverse UK dance community. Awarded £12,000.
  2. LEVILE – A casting and media agency providing genuine opportunities for diverse and underrepresented creative talent within the TV and film industries. Awarded £15,000.
  3. Rehema Cultural Arts – An arts organization collaborating with cultural institutions to decolonize African history collections and ensure African stories are presented from an African perspective, promoting wider access within Black communities. Awarded £10,000.
  4. The Bitten Peach – The UK’s first queer pan-Asian cabaret casting agency and production company on a mission to diversify Asian representation on stage through various art forms. Awarded £13,000.
  5. United in Design – A charity founded to address equality, diversity, and inclusion gaps within the Interior Design Industry, focusing on individuals from ethnic minorities and lower socioeconomic backgrounds. Awarded £10,000.
DBACE winners 2023 (left to right) Alexandria Dauley, United in Design; Sherry Davis, Rehema Cultural Arts; Brenda Emmanus OBE (host); Ola Christian, LEVILE; Samantha Sun & Alisa Morris, The Bitten Peach; Louise Nkosi, CEO, MeWe360; Amy Harris, Head of Corporate Social Responsibility UK, Deutsche Bank; Kamara Gray, Artistry Youth Dance. Photo credit: Amari Yogendran :Photo © DBACE
DBACE winners 2023 (left to right) Alexandria Dauley, United in Design; Sherry Davis, Rehema Cultural Arts; Brenda Emmanus OBE (host); Ola Christian, LEVILE; Samantha Sun & Alisa Morris, The Bitten Peach; Louise Nkosi, CEO, MeWe360; Amy Harris, Head of Corporate Social Responsibility UK, Deutsche Bank; Kamara Gray, Artistry Youth Dance. Photo ©Amari Yogendran

This year, for the first time, DBACE opened its doors to applicants over the age of 18, resulting in 573 entries from diverse industries including creative arts organizations, podcast producers, fashion, and media agencies.

“The funding and business support will allow us to support even more young Black dancers and help us develop a more culturally diverse UK dance community.” 

Kamara Gray, Founder, Artistry Youth Dance 

As one of the UK’s longest-running creative enterprise programs, DBACE has supported over 400 talented entrepreneurs and 320 creative ventures to date, benefiting countless applicants through mentorship and valuable skills development. The partnership with MeWe360, a not-for-profit incubator championing Black, Asian, and minority ethnic entrepreneurs in the arts and creative industries, has further enhanced DBACE’s impact and broadened access to traditionally underrepresented groups.

“Access to this funding and business support will allow us to get to new frontiers as The Bitten Peach. We now feel like there is no end to where we could go or how deep our impact could be.” 

Alisa Morris, Co-Founder, The Bitten Peach

Deutsche Bank remains steadfast in its commitment to nurturing grassroots creative talent, regardless of background, particularly in times of social, political, and economic uncertainty. The DBACE Awards have continuously evolved to respond to the changing landscape of the UK’s creative sector, acknowledging the sector’s significant growth and its potential to address pressing societal issues. From improving education and health outcomes to offering innovative environmental solutions and revitalizing communities, creative entrepreneurship plays a pivotal role.

As the program moves forward, DBACE and MeWe360 continue to cultivate and support creative entrepreneurs who drive positive change, fostering a vibrant and inclusive creative landscape for the betterment of society.