Since 2005, the St. Catharines Arts Awards have recognized the achievements of and contributions to the local arts community. More than 80 awards have been given to artists, businesses, individuals, and organizations, who have demonstrated excellence in artistic creation and contribution to the arts in St. Catharines.
In 2025 the City is reviewing the Arts Awards program and will be hosting the next awards ceremony in 2026. Please check back in early 2026 and watch the City's social media channels for the callout for nominees for the 2026 St. Catharines Arts Awards.
Award Categories
The City of St. Catharines seeks nominations from the community for its Arts Awards. Awards are presented in these categories:
Arts in Education Award
The Arts in Education Award recognizes an individual, collective or organization that has demonstrated an outstanding commitment to engaging St. Catharines residents through arts education activities. Award recipient receives $500 and personalized handmade glass sculpture.
Emerging Artist Award
The Emerging Artist Award is presented to an emerging St. Catharines artist working in any discipline to recognize accomplishments and future potential. Emerging Artists are establishing careers in their field and are working to become recognized professional artists. Award recipient receives $500 and personalized handmade glass sculpture.
Established Artist Award
The Established Artist Award is presented to a professional St. Catharines artist in any discipline who has received recognition for excellence in their art practice in St. Catharines and beyond (regionally, provincially, nationally). Award recipient receives $500 and personalized handmade glass sculpture.
Making a Difference Award
The Making A Difference Award recognizes a St. Catharines arts entrepreneur, arts administrator, arts organization, arts animator or volunteer in the arts whose leadership and innovation have significantly contributed to the growth and development of arts and culture in St. Catharines. Award recipient receives $500 and personalized handmade glass sculpture.
Patron of the Arts Award
The Patron of the Arts Award recognizes an individual or business that has made a meaningful contribution to the arts in St. Catharines through innovative, transformative, and entrepreneurial partnerships or philanthropic investments. Award recipient receives a $500 contribution to be directed to a St. Catharines artist or arts organization of the recipient’s choice and personalized handmade glass sculpture.
Eligibility criteria
Commitment to Inclusion and Representation
St. Catharines values input from diverse voices. To encourage participation and promote a diversity of skills and perspectives, the City has adopted principles of inclusion, equity and accessibility so that all citizens have equal opportunities.
The City strives to ensure that the Arts Awards reflect St. Catharines’ diversity and demographics in such areas as gender identity and expression, geographic representation, age, race, ethnic identity, sexual orientation, experience and ability. We also welcome the nomination of individuals, collectives and organizations at different stages in their artistic careers, working in a wide diversity of disciplinary practices across St. Catharines.
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Nominators (all award categories)
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- Must be 18 years of age or older.
- Can be an individual, organization or business residing in any city.
- Cannot be an immediate family member of the nominee.
- Artists cannot self-nominate.
- Cannot be a member of the Jury or City of St. Catharines' staff.
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| Nominees (all award categories) |
- 18 years of age or older.
- Must not have been nominated for a St. Catharines Arts Award in the last 12 months.
- Is a St. Catharines' resident, practices in St. Catharines (e.g., studio is based in St. Catharines or studies in St. Catharines), a St. Catharines' business owner, or an arts worker or volunteer with a St. Catharines' organization.
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| Arts in Education Award |
- Nominee must have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to engaging St. Catharines' residents through arts education activities.
- Artistic collectives (e.g., band, duo, troupe, collective, etc.) are eligible for nomination provided that a minimum of 75 per cent of the collective has worked in St. Catharines consecutively for the past two years or longer.
- Nominee may be self-taught or have art training through formal education, apprenticeship, or with a mentor or elder.
- Open to all artistic disciplines including, but not limited to, dance, performing arts, fine craft, visual arts, media arts, film, music, theatre and writing.
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| Emerging Artist Award |
- Nominee must be in the early years of launching a professional career.
- Emerging artists have created and publicly presented a modest body of independent work and are ready for the next steps in their artistic development.
- Artistic collectives (e.g., band, duo, troupe, collective, etc.) are eligible for nomination provided that a minimum of 75 per cent of the collective has worked in St. Catharines consecutively for the past two years or longer.
- Nominee may be self-taught or have art training through formal education, apprenticeship, or with a mentor or elder.
- Open to all artistic disciplines including, but not limited to, dance, performing arts, fine craft, visual arts, media arts, film, music, theatre and writing.
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Established Artist Award
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- Nominee is recognized as a professional by their peers (artists working in the same artistic tradition), which could include critical recognition or excellence.
- Nominee has a history of public presentation or publication.
- Nominee must be actively producing work (within the last three years).
- Individual artist or arts professional who is 18 years of age or older.
- Artistic collectives (e.g., band, duo, troupe, collective, etc.) are eligible for nomination provided that a minimum of 75 per cent of the collective has worked in St. Catharines consecutively for the past two years or longer.
- Nominee may be self-taught or have art training through formal education, apprenticeship, or with a mentor or elder.
- Open to all artistic disciplines including, but not limited to, dance, performing arts, fine craft, visual arts, media arts, music, theatre and writing.
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Making A Difference Award
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- Nominee has made a significant contribution to the growth and development of arts and culture in St. Catharines, e.g., their leadership has led to a new or significant event, organization or initiative.
- Organizations are eligible for nomination.
- Artistic collectives (e.g., band, duo, troupe, collective, etc.) are eligible for nomination provided that a minimum of 75 per cent of the collective has worked in St. Catharines consecutively for the past two years or longer.
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| Patron of the Arts Award |
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Nominee has shown consistent and substantial support to the arts in St. Catharines, including, but not limited to visual arts, performing arts, literature, music, film, or any other creative discipline.
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Support can include financial contributions, sponsorship of artistic events or exhibitions, commissioning new works, providing resources or infrastructure for artists.
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Support can also include significant partnerships established between the recipient and the arts community. This could involve working closely with artists, arts organizations or cultural institutions to develop and execute joint projects, initiatives, or programs.
- Individuals, organizations, and businesses are eligible for nomination.
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Nomination and selection process
| Nomination Submission |
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Members of the public are invited to submit an Arts Awards nomination in any award category. Submit a brief statement outlining why you feel the individual, collective, or organization should be nominated.
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Nominee Submission Review
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Nominees will have the opportunity to review the information included in their nomination so they can expand upon their contributions and experiences. Nominator details will be shared with nominees and may be shared through the Award Selection process and recognition efforts.
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| Jury (Award Selection) |
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A Jury will adjudicate the submissions to select the Arts Awards recipients. The Jury will be comprised of arts community leaders who reflect the diversity of St. Catharines’ arts sector. The Jury will evaluate the nominations based on the artistic excellence, career, and impact of the individual, collective or organization. A member of the Arts and Culture Advisory Committee will audit the Jury session to ensure that a fair and transparent selection process is followed.
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Recent recipients
| 2024 award recipients |
- Arts in Education Award: Brenna McAllister
- Emerging Artist Award: Amber Lee Williams
- Established Artist Award: Cole Lewis
- Making a Difference Award: Deanna Jones
- Patron of the Arts Award: Annette Urlocker
- Jury's Pick Award: Christina Hartmann
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| 2023 award recipients |
- Arts in Education Award: Alice Burke
- Emerging Artist Award: Vik Mudge
- Established Artist Award: Sandy Middleton
- Making a Difference Award: Todd Green
- Jury's Pick Award: Matter of Black
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| 2022 award recipients |
- Arts in Education Award: Dr. Rachel Rensink-Hoff
- Emerging Artist Award: Kathryn Sinopoli
- Established Artist Award: Amy Friend
- Making a Difference Award: Emily Oriold
- Patron of the Arts Award: Frank Goldspink
- Jury's Pick Award: Monica Dufault
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| 2021 award recipients |
- Arts in Education Award: Curtis Tye
- Emerging Artist Award: Elise Naccarato
- Established Artist Award: Peter Shea
- Making a Difference Award: OPIRG Brock
- Patron of the Arts Award: Janet Patridge
- Jury's Pick Award: Jean Bridge
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