Each year since 1988 The Critics' Circle has presented an award for Distinguished Service to the Arts, voted for by all members of the Circle, embracing Dance, Drama, Film, Music, Visual Arts and Architecture.
This performing arts Award takes the form of an engraved crystal rose bowl, presented at a celebratory luncheon. The recipients were:
1988 Sir Peter Hall
1989 Dame Ninette de Valois
1990 Sir Michael Tippett
1991 Sir David Lean
1992 Sir John Mills
1993 Sir Peter Ustinov
1994 Sir John Drummond
1995 Sir Peter Wright
1996 Sir Richard Eyre
1997 Dame Judi Dench
1998 Sir Edward Downes
1999 Harold Pinter
2000 Dame Alicia Markova
2001 Paul Scofield
2002 Sir Alfred Brendel
2003 Sir Ian McKellen
2004 Mike Leigh
2005 Alan Bennett
2006 Dame Helen Mirren
2007 Sir Tom Stoppard
2008 Peter Brook
2009 Sir Alan Ayckbourn
2010 Ken Loach
2011 Stephen Sondheim
2013 Grayson Perry
2014 Sir Nicholas Hytner
2015 Dame Maggie Smith
