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The St. Catharines Arts Awards recognize and celebrate excellence in all areas of contribution and artistic creation. The Arts Awards seek to increase the visibility of St. Catharines’ artists and cultural industries, honour cultural leaders and their achievements, and cultivate financial and volunteer support for the arts sector.
The online Nomination Portal opens soon! Please check back for details.
Please consult the awards descriptions and eligibility criteria sections below to inform your nomination(s).
Our amazing artists, administrators and volunteers will be recognized to represent the St. Catharines community through their commitment, talent, and contribution to the community in the following categories:
Arts in Education Award |
The Arts in Education Award celebrates an individual, collective or organization that has demonstrated an outstanding commitment to engaging St. Catharines residents through arts education activities. |
Emerging Artist Award |
The Emerging Artist Award is presented to an emerging St. Catharines artist working in any discipline to celebrate current accomplishments and future potential. Emerging Artists are establishing careers in their field and are working to become recognized professional artists. The Jury will consider nominees who are 18 years or older, who are based and active in St. Catharines and who have been practicing their art form for less than 10 years. |
Established Artist Award |
The Established Artist Award is presented to a professional St. Catharines artist in any discipline who has received critical recognition for excellence in their art practice in St. Catharines and beyond. The jury will consider nominees who have been actively practicing their art form for at least 10 years and whose work has made an impact on the St. Catharines’ community. |
Making a Difference Award |
The Making a Difference Award celebrates 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. |
Patron of the Arts Award |
The Patron of the Arts Award celebrates an individual, business or organization that has made a meaningful contribution to the arts in St. Catharines through innovative, transformative, and entrepreneurial partnerships or philanthropic investments. |
General Eligibility Criteria for Nominees |
Please consult the 2021 Nomination Guidelines (click here) for detailed eligibility criteria and Jury Scoring Criteria. |
The Awards Jury and Recipient Recognition |
Awards Jury All nominations will be evaluated by an independent jury comprised of three artists and/or arts professionals. The jury will be chaired by a member of the Arts Awards Subcommittee and will select the award recipients. All decisions of the jury are final. The Jury will remain anonymous until event day.
Award recognition will be presented as follows:
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Previous Event Details |
2020 Event: On Oct. 25, 2020 the Arts Awards went virtual! The awards were celebrated live online as a co-presentation by the City of St. Catharines with presenting partner FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre. Hosted by Jessica Wilson, our 2018 Emerging Artist Recipient and featuring performances by 2020 nominee Juliet Dunn accompanied by Peter Shea. Or on Facebook:
2020 Recipients: The 2020 Arts in Education recipient Kari-Lynn Winters is an award-winning children’s author, playwright, poet, performer, and academic scholar. An experienced teacher of writing, she has worked with students across North America and currently teaches Drama in Education to future educators at Brock University. The Emerging Artist recipient Erica Sherwood is a multi-disciplinary artist who has held roles as a director, actor, editor, producer, marketer, promoter, camera operator, cohost, organizer, singer, improviser, film-maker and sound designer. She has received critical recognition for her work both as an actor and film-maker. Erica frequently collaborates with local organizations and has created a youth film initiative/non profit ‘Jarico Films’ to promote youth involvement in film in Niagara. The Established Artist recipient Danny Custodio is a photo-based artist who has been living and working in St. Catharines since 2009. Beginning with his studies of Photography, Custodio has developed a rigorous practice that explores his familial histories and cultural traditions. His work has been presented in exhibitions throughout North America and is held in many collections. Custodio’s most recent works: ‘Flower Carpets/Tapetes Floridos’, were featured in solo exhibitions at Rodman Hall Art Centre and Smokestack Gallery. The Making a Difference recipient Juliet Dunn is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of the TD Niagara Jazz Festival which celebrates the art of Jazz across the Niagara region, presenting internationally acclaimed musicians, and showcasing local performers at a variety of events throughout the year. Juliet is a performer herself, known widely for her talents as a Jazz singer and actress. The Jury’s Pick recipient Candice Turner-Smith is an arts administrator who is known for serving as the Executive Director of the Niagara Symphony Orchestra from 2012 until her retirement in 2019. Since leaving the Niagara Symphony, Candice is once again focussed on her extensive consulting career, working with many organizations including The Foster Festival, Bravo Niagara, Carousel Players, Chorus Niagara and Music Niagara, just to name a few. Candice was originally nominated in the Making a Difference Category. |
For More Information |
Contact: Cultural Services Office |