Ange Loft named Recipient of $20,000 Toronto Arts Foundation Indigenous Artist Award
TORONTO, October 18, 2022 - Interdisciplinary performing artist and initiator Ange Loft was presented with the second ever Toronto Arts Foundation Indigenous Artist Award. Claire Hopkinson, Director & CEO of Toronto Arts Council (TAC) and Toronto Arts Foundation and TAC Board President and Foundation Board member Jason Ryle joined sponsors Sarah Hunter of the K.M.Hunter Foundation and Lena Demarco of Bell to celebrate Ange Loft’s achievements today at ImagineNATIVE’s Welcome Gathering for their 2022 Film + Media Arts Festival. This $20,000 award recognizes an Indigenous professional artist or artist collective working in traditional or contemporary practices who has contributed significantly to arts and culture in Toronto and has demonstrated an ongoing association with Toronto.
From Kahnawà:ke Kanien'kehá:ka Territory, Ange Loft is an ardent collaborator, consultant, and facilitator working in arts-based research, wearable sculpture, theatrical co-creation and Haudenosaunee history. The panel noted Ange’s strong community work and her contribution to the arts in the City through her association with many organizations and initiatives. They were particularly moved by her Treaty Guide for Torontonians project, which, they said, makes space and offers healing for Indigenous communities, and is also useful for non-Indigenous people in its re-writing of history.
2022 finalists Rebecca Baird, a senior Nehiyaw Cree/Métis mixed-media visual artist and Sandra Laronde a multidisciplinary artist working as a director, producer, choreographer, digital storyteller, and author, were also celebrated for their contributions to the arts. They both received a $2,000 award, supported by Bell.
As part of the Award, Ange Loft is invited to designate a professional artist mentor/Elder or mentee/protégée to receive $5,000. Both the recipient prize and the mentor or mentee prize are supported by K.M. Hunter Foundation. In addition to this, Ange will receive a complimentary week-long stay at Valleyview Artist Retreat.
The assessment panel for the 2022 Indigenous Artist Award included Bonnie Devine, Babe Waters, Alyssa Delbaere-Sawchuk, Laura Grier, Jamie Whitecrow and Jessie Jakumeit, and was facilitated by Award Program Manager, Catherine Tammaro.
For more information about the award and 2022 finalists, visit our website.
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About Toronto Arts Foundation
Toronto Arts Foundation is a charitable organization that sparks creative connections, spotlights artistic excellence, and supports vibrant cultural growth throughout our diverse city, through private sector investment. To learn more or to make a donation, visit torontoartsfoundation.org.
Contact information
For more information, please contact:
Sarah Gladki, Communications Manager at sarah@torontoarts.org or 416-392-6802 x 217