The Arab British Centre awarded Syrian children's author and illustrator Nadine Kaadan and event producer Marsam its biennial Arab British Centre Award for Culture 2019 on Thursday.

Winners of the award receive a cash prize of £2,500 and a British Council travel grant of £1,500.

A further British Council travel grant of £1,000 is awarded to a runner-up in each category.

With over 15 children's books in her portfolio, Kaadan is an award-winning children’s book author and illustrator whose stories sometimes touch on delicate subjects such as children with special needs.

Marsam is an event organisation company that holds events for Arab artists from all over the Arab countries in the UK.

The Arab British Centre Award for Culture is a biennial prize that celebrates those who have significantly contributed to the dissemination of Arab arts and culture and furthered dialogue and understanding of the Arab world in the United Kingdom.

It was established in 2008 for the purpose of raising awareness of contemporary Arab culture in the UK and to give financial support to individuals and organisations at a crucial stage of their career.

The award was previously granted to Saqi Books, Zaytoun, Liverpool Arab Arts Festival, Al Jazeera English, playwrights Hassan Abdul-Razak and Hannah Khalil, and Arts Canteen.