Nominations are now open for 2019 Toronto Arts Foundation Awards

Toronto Arts Foundation Awards celebrate artistic excellence and recognize the contributions of artists and arts supporters to creative city-building in Toronto.

TORONTO, November 19, 2018 – The nomination portal for five Toronto Arts Foundation Awards is now open. The awards celebrate artistic excellence and recognize the contributions of artists and arts supporters to creative city-building in Toronto. Any person may submit a nomination including arts champions, artists, arts managers and board directors.

The five awards offered in 2019 are:

Arts for Youth Award – The Toronto Arts Foundation Arts for Youth Award is a $20,000 cash prize, with finalists receiving $2,000. The award celebrates an individual, collective or organization that has demonstrated an outstanding commitment to engaging Toronto’s youth through the arts. Established in 2007, the award is supported by Martha Burns, Jim Fleck, and Sandra and Jim Pitblado. The finalist prizes are supported by Diana Bennett and Spencer Lanthier. The Arts for Youth Award is part of our Signature Awards, presented every year at our Mayor’s Arts Lunch.

Emerging Artist Award – The Toronto Arts Foundation Emerging Artist Award is a $10,000 cash prize, with finalists receiving $2,000. The award celebrates the accomplishments and future potential of an emerging Toronto artist working in any discipline. Established in 2006, the award is sponsored by Susan Crocker and John Hunkin and is intended to support the development or completion of new work. The finalist awards were established in 2014 and are supported by the Bulmash-Siegel Fund. The Emerging Artist Award is part of our Signature Awards, presented every year at the Mayor’s Arts Lunch.

Margo Bindhardt and Rita Davies Award – The Toronto Arts Foundation Margo Bindhardt and Rita Davies Award is a $10,000 cash prize, with finalists receiving $1,000. The award celebrates an individual artist, creator, volunteer or administrator who has demonstrated creative cultural leadership in the development of arts and culture in Toronto. The award is supported in part by John and Raphaela Dunlap. The finalist awards are supported by Neera Chopra. The Margo Bindhardt and Rita Davies Award is part of our Signature Awards, presented every two years at the Mayor’s Arts Lunch.

Muriel Sherrin Award – The Toronto Arts Foundation Muriel Sherrin Award is a $10,000 cash prize that celebrates an artist or creator who has made a contribution to the cultural life of Toronto through outstanding achievement in music or dance. The recipient will also have participated in international initiatives, including touring, studying abroad and participating in artist exchanges. In addition to the prize money, the 2019 recipient will receive a complimentary week long stay at Valleyview Artist Retreat. The award rotates from music to dance in alternating prize years. In 2019, the award will be presented in the field of music. The Muriel Sherrin Award is part of our Signature Awards, presented every two years at the Mayor’s Arts Lunch.

Emerging Jazz Artist Award – The Toronto Arts Foundation Emerging Jazz Artist Award is a $10,000 cash prize with finalists receiving $1,000. The award furthers the career of an outstanding emerging jazz artist and is intended to support the pre-production, production, and/or recording of original music composed by the recipient. Established in 2014, the award is supported by Cheryl and Manuel Buchwald, and will be given out annually for at least 10 years. The Emerging Jazz Artist Award is part of our Vision Awards, presented every year at the TD Toronto Jazz Festival.

Toronto Arts Foundation Awards are designed to heighten public awareness of arts and artists in Toronto by recognizing artistic excellence and achievement. These awards are presented in recognition of a body of creative accomplishment, rather than for specific works or achievements.

All nominations will be submitted online through the Toronto Arts Foundation Nomination Portal. Nominations must include a biography, nomination rationale and where appropriate, accompanying support material.  Individuals may nominate themselves for the Emerging Jazz Artist Award. Self-nominations will not be considered for the other awards.

The deadline to nominate an organization, collective or individual for the above awards is February 15, 2019 at 11:59 PM EST.

The Emerging Jazz Artist Award will be presented in June 2019 at the TD Jazz Festival. All other awards will be presented in May 2019 as part of the Foundation’s annual Mayor’s Arts Lunch.

For more information about the awards, or to nominate an individual, collective or organization, visit: www.torontoartsfoundation.org/awards

 

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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.

Contact Information:

For questions about eligibility for the Emerging Jazz Artist Award, please contact: Christy DiFelice, Music Program Manager, Toronto Arts Council at christy@torontoartscouncil.org or at 416-392-6802 x 202

For questions about eligibility for all of the other awards, please contact: Rupal Shah, Awards Program Manager, Toronto Arts Foundation at rupal@torontoartscouncil.org or at 416-392-6802 x 209

For more information about Toronto Arts Foundation, please contact: Sarah Gladki, Communications Manager, Toronto Arts Foundation at sarah@torontoarts.org or at 416-392-6802 x 217.