Fablr and The Modernist Society have been named finalists at the Manchester Culture Awards 2025 – an achievement in its own right – in the ‘Making it Happen – Best Business Partnership’ category.
This is in recognition of their collaboration on The Modernist App, a free location-based guide opening up modernist architecture to audiences across the UK.
Presented at the annual ceremony hosted by Reece Williams and DJ Paulette, this achievement places the partnership amongst Manchester’s leading cultural innovators.
While Fablr and The Modernist Society finished just behind Skills Bootcamp, Reform Radio & Partners, very deserved winners on the night, the nomination highlights how digital tools are reshaping cultural access – breaking down barriers, sparking curiosity and offering innovative new ways for people to explore and learn about places across the UK.
Developed using Fablr’s Pinpoint framework and supported by Greater Manchester Combined Authority funding, The Modernist App offers curated tours, layered histories and editorial features built to make architecture more interactive and accessible. Since launch, the app has continued to grow, with new cities and neighbourhood trails planned.
Philip Bennison, founder at Fablr, said: “Being named finalists among such an impressive field is a huge honour. The Modernist App reflects what we believe the future of cultural engagement looks like – free, accessible and woven into everyday life.
“While we congratulate this year’s winners, we’re also incredibly proud of what this partnership represents for Manchester’s digital and cultural communities. We’re excited to see what comes next.”
Jack Hale, co-founder at The Modernist Society, said: “We’re proud to stand alongside Fablr as finalists for a project that helps people explore and appreciate architecture in a fresh, accessible way.
“The Modernist App has opened up new opportunities for people to discover stories hidden in plain sight, and this recognition shows just how important digital platforms are becoming in helping the public engage with heritage and culture.”
The Manchester Culture Awards – now a key fixture in the city’s cultural calendar – celebrate the partnerships and organisations driving Manchester’s creative identity forward. This year’s finalists underscore how digital innovation continues to expand cultural access not only across the city, but nationwide.
Industry observers note that tools like The Modernist App are signalling the next chapter for UK cultural engagement: tech-enabled, AR-focussed, free at the point of use, and designed to open up the UKs world-class culture to anyone with a smartphone. As galleries, museums and cultural organisations explore new ways to reach audiences, Fablr’s work points to a future where digital platforms become central to how we experience our surroundings.
Speaking on how the heritage and culture industry is increasing engagement with audiences through tech, Philip Bennison, Founder at Fablr, continues: “by next year’s awards, we predict that the industry will embrace location-based experiences like ours.
“We foresee AI tour guides guiding people around cities, VR and AR enhancing experiences, and all sorts of new and exciting collaborations between the innovative creative sector and tech companies like Fablr. Apps like this one just let you reach much broader audiences, but they also allow you to measure impact and drive further growth off the back of that.”
