The Erotic Awards
The Erotic Awards began in 1994 to honour the stars in the erotic universe. We are cutting edge, grass roots and philanthropic and have become increasingly influential on an international level. Our 14 categories – artists, performers, sex workers, artists, campaigners, film makers, websites, blogs and podcasts – include the famous, the struggling and the previously unknown. Many of them have been ostracised simply because they work in the sex world.
The Erotic Awards is run by a group of volunteers who have their fingers on the pulse of what is happening in the erotic worlds of art, pleasure and politics. Whilst other awards concentrate on the commercial sex industry, we select people from very different, and wildly varying, backgrounds: people with incredible talent and people who are ground-breakers, pioneers and innovators.
The Erotic Awards is the most prestigious arm of the Leydig Trust's philanthropic and fund-raising projects, raising funds for Outsiders, the charity that helps disabled people to find partners. The Erotic Awards includes disabled judges, nominees, performers, and our main presenter is actor and activist Mat Fraser.
Grand Jury of Conspicuous Sensuality
* Tuppy Owens – Sex Therapist, Pioneer, Founder of Outsiders
* Tulloch – Outsiders Director, Charity and Design Consultant
* Tania Glyde - Bestselling Author
* Victor Arwas – Art Writer and Gallery owner
* Mouse – Performance Artist and Film Maker
* Ashley - Photographer
* Boyd Phillips – Artist
* Valeria – Performance Artist and Fetish Diva
* Lily Dumont – Actress and Sex Writer
* Helen Karin - Fashion Designer
* Ian - SW5 Sex Workers Project
* Jonathan Root – Portrait Photographer
Programme
Nominations come from the public via this website and the judges select three finalists per category. Finalists are announced in early summer.
SHOWCASE is our luxurious corporate semi-finals fundraising night in May each year in London.
Erotic Awards Exhibition
The 2008 Erotic Awards Exhibition opens with a Private View on Wednesday 3rd September at the Jago Gallery, 77 Redchurch Street, Hoxton, London E2 7BJ, opening to the public 4th - 11th September 12 noon to midnight. The exhibition will then be transferred to the Night of the Senses.
Finals
The Erotic Awards 2008 Finals take place in the early evening of the Night of the Senses on 12th September, at Mass and Babalou in Brixton.
Winners are announced in the exhibition marquee at 7pm and then presented on stage with the much-admired golden flying penis trophies, hand-carved for us in Bali.
Then the striptease, performance and fashion finalists will be seen on stage and these winners presented with their trophies.
Buy tickets here
www.nightofthesenses.com/buy_tickets
A permanent collection of our finalists' work is under discussion.
Winners
Winners have included the now famous, such as Derek Jarman, American sex guru Annie Sprinkle, Immodesty Blaize, Mat Fraser, Lily Dumont, the American film Shortbus, the Australian website abbywinters.com, artist Tomi Ungerer, American writer Susie Bright and Peter Tatchell, as well as those who quietly excel, such as sex worker Kim, skinmarvin.com, Spanish photographers J.A.M. Montoya and Mariano Vargas, and imnotsorry.net where women talk frankly about their abortions.
Feedback
"Congratulations on launching a genuinely lovely and fun Awards show. We had a blast. We felt like VIPs all evening and that was especially nice."
Marianna Beck and Jack Hafferkamp of Libido (Chicago) (Publication of the Year 1999)
“I guess one of the sweetest scenes I saw was the winners of the Awards walking around holding their golden flying cocks like they were going to take off, and spinning around the Ball in uncontained joy.”
Guest at the Night of the Senses
“What appeals to me most about the movement is its courageous engagement with subjects that are rarely, if ever discussed.”
Frieda Klotz in the Erotic Review
"The Erotic Awards was one of my proudest moments as not only do I look on it as a serious, industry award but the fact that it's attached to the Leydig Trust and Outsiders is something, excuse the clichés here, extremely close to my heart. Aside from the AMAZING night with an amazing mix of people, tastes, perversions and orientations, the atmosphere was unthreatening, welcoming, fun but safe and I've never been to a fetish/similar night quite like it. I also need to thank the EA team who were constantly helpful, friendly, encouraging and bending over backwards to help even though they were buzzing round like blue-arsed flies. I just wanted to genuinely and deeply thank you, Tuppy, for creating this beautiful creature."
Lily Dumont, Performance Artist of the Year 2006
The Erotic Awards Team of Volunteers
• Dr Tuppy Owens - Founder and Director
• Tulloch - Stage Manager and Private View Artistic Designer
• Tania Glyde ¬ Vice Chair and Press
• Lily Dumont - Sponsorship
• Jaime Bautista - Exhibition Curator
• Boyd Phillips, Yasmin Ryan, Ashley and Filomena - Exhibition Designers
• John K at Bottle Rocket Web Designer
• Naughty.com Web Host
* Jon Edge, Ashley, Dylan, Tania Glyde, Rod McDonald, Alex Teacher, Pat B and Erica Bower - Photographers
* Alison Wheeler - Technical Manager
Outsiders
Outsiders was founded in 1979, a club for disabled people to live life to the full, and find sexual partners. Outsiders offers members support in asserting their right to a private life, and seeking love in a society where status stems from good looks and money. Outsiders also runs the Sex and Disability Helpline, the V-Group, for disabled women with sexual problems, a LGBT network, and the Sex and Disability Alliance. The website is www.outsiders.org.uk
Without the funding from the Leydig Trust, this work would not be possible.
Quotes from the Press
“The show was spectacular, the exhibition ground-breaking and the atmosphere, if you can imagine it, the Glastonbury of Sex.”
Erotic Review Summer 2007“It would be interesting if the Awards were taken seriously like the Booker or Turner.”
Grayson Perry in The Times, 30th August 2006“Time to salute the titillaters who tirelessly spice up our everyday lives . . . there's nowhere better..”
Guardian Guide, Ist September 2006“Nudity and shoes~ all in a good cause”
Independent on Sunday, 3rd September 2006“What's good about The Awards is that it's an acknowledgment for people who don't normally get recognition for the work they do.”
Tug, 24th August 2006“The Erotic Awards Showcase will be held at the fabulously decadent old fashioned theatre, the Clapham Grand on 24th May”
Erotic Trade Only March 2006“This year's Erotic Awards event was rammed tight with the most beautiful, generous, hard working and innovative eroticists.”
Erotic Review September 2005“The Erotic Awards is a yearly event that celebrates sex and sexuality in all its forms. Finalists are nominated in a number of categories, from writer to sex worker to performer, and there's a vote for the winners just before the event.
This isn't some branded rave, run by cynical young trendies and sponsored by the latest foul alcoholic mutation; the whole thing is presided over by the seasoned campaigner Dr Tuppy Owens, who turned 60 last year, and a merry band of free-thinking persons, many of whom are well over 35. In fact, one of the past finalists was a stripper who went by the name of "Fabulous At Forty". She was also a complete novice at the time but, if I remember right, decided to go pro not long after. Being 40 put her somewhere in the middle of the crowd, age-wise. Men and women of all ages travel from miles around for this party, also known as The Night of the Senses, because they know that whatever they feel like doing, or wearing, will be accepted, and no one is going to point the finger at them because of their age or physical appearance.”
The Independent 17 September 2005“The annual burlesque-laden award ceremony rewards creativity ... and has something of a political and philanthropic element too, with anti-censorship and pro-sex education advocates feted and proceeds going to a charity which helps find partners for disabled people.”
The Guardian Guide 3 Sept 2005“The show featured performances from many finalists including a particularly memorable one from Leona and Tommy, a Scandinavian couple who run FuckforForest, and 'ecological porn site'.”
Desire Autumn 2005“The Erotic Awards is the adult version of the Oscars, promoting recognition for the most innovative, generous and gorgeous performers, writers, film-makers and activists of the year – and it's all for charity. Imagine the scene: a roomful of men and women of all ages and sexual persuasions, dressed up in their fabulous best, applauding an array of erotic performers and looking forward to a night of sensual exploration and fun. Welcome to the Erotic Awards, part of the Night of the Senses, an annual celebration of all things erotic.”
Erotic Review May 2005“A department store of British sexual fantasies.”
The Guardian 26 May 2004“A ground-breaking stage show at the sexiest event in the UK, and possibly the world.”
Eros Website 2004“The gay health charity GMFA has been recognised for its positive attitude towards sex by this year's Erotic Awards. Also singled out was Mike McCann, owner of gay store Clone Zone, for founding and running the Adult Industry Trade Association, which campaigns for a fair legal framework for pornography.”
Pink Paper 10th Sept 2004“I am delighted that the courage of our contributors has been recognised, and it's hard to see where else this recognition might have come from - The Erotic Awards, after all, honour people who are unafraid to work in Sexuality.
Catherine Merriman, editor of Laughing Not Laughing, Publication of the Year 2004 on BBC News“Honno's Nicola Craddock picked up the literary awards on behalf of the 26 authors at The Erotic Awards in London this week.”
The Western Mail 10th Sept 2003“UK distributor Tartan Films made it a stiff double this year at UK's annual Erotic Awards.”
Screen International 26th Sept 2003“Recognising achievement in an unsung industry.”
Cosmopolitan November 2003“An incredible spectacle in a festive ambiance”
Hot Video January 2003“UK distributor Tartan Films made it a stiff double this year at UK's annual Erotic Awards.”
Screen International 26th Sept 2003“For good works over the years and her ceaseless efforts in educating people to be more understanding and tolerant towards disabled people, Tuppy Owens deserves to be nominated the highest honour in the land. This year, the Marquis rubber stockings made it into the finals of the Erotic Awards.”
Marquis Magazine 2000“An opportunity for strippers to display their talents and express their personal passions.”
Erotic Review 2000“Welcome to the Erotic Awards - awarded each year to people who are outstanding in their field.” ICA programme for Mardi Gras 2000
“Miss Owens' enlightened views and ceaseless fundraising . . . includes the self-fellating Mr Bronze blowing his own trumpet in the striptease section.”
Mardi Gras Arts Festival Programme 2000“Incredible performances, incredible costumes - or lack of them - and a huge number of people.” Gay Times June 2000
Julian Snelling, oscar de l'artiste le plus érotique”
Dauploré 28th May 2000“The artists who are nominated love the event.”
Metronome Spring 2000“The raunchiest male and female strip show ever. A unique erotic gala . . . a truly original and often outrageous showcase of erotic performance in the broadest senses.”
Desire Magazine 2000“Tuppy Owens feels she has come through a long tunnel of frustration and torment, having been continuously hit over the head for her endeavours. Her three brainchilds, the Outsiders, the Erotic Awards and the Night of the Senses are all coming together as one big project, promoting sexuality for all, and sexual tolerance for everyone.”
Eros Magazine (Australia) 2000“Excitements on offer were the Erotic Awards ceremony, gloriously compared by the SFC's favourite blonde, stripper Miki and special congratulations should go to Birch, Bottoms and Lovett, who won Best Erotic Product with their Plug-in-Pony-Girl-Tail.”
Forum December 2000It's not any old winged gold cock, you know . . .it's an Erotic Oscar.”
Time Out May 19-26 1999“More fun than Shakespeare in Love”
Metro London, May 21st 1999“The Erotic Awards are wonderful in that they give as much attention to small, homegrown unsophisticated products as more commercial and glamourous ones. They open the door for people to gain confidence and make their skills more widely known.”
Consenting Adults 1998“This year, Helen Knox was nominated for the Erotic Awards for Sexplained - the Uncensored Guide to Sexual Health, the book she wrote and published.”
Nursing Times 1998“Flirt won Publication of the Year at the Erotic Awards, a shamelessly naughty celebration.”
Axiom 23rd April 1998“Photographer Laurence Jaugey-Paget nearly fell of the stage with the giddiness picking up the Publication of the Year 1998 award for us at the Erotic Awards.”
Flirt Magazine 1997“Dr Tuppy Owens believes that this years Award nominations reflect a new professionalism in the sex industry. Today people want products to be as lovely and user friendly as everything else they buy”
Apple Bomb Bubble Gum 1997“A happy winner gets to grips with his Erotic Oscar – bestowed on him for outstanding service to the sex industry.”
Time Out April 3-10 1996“The Awards take place at a secret ceremony.”
Daily Sport Feb 19th 1996