Toronto Arts Foundation announces 2017 Signature Award Nominees

A World in a City - Local Artists with International Perspective

Toronto Arts Foundation Award Nominees Show the Best of Toronto

In the world’s most diverse city, Toronto Arts Foundation Awards celebrate creative artists whose roots are both international and indigenous—and thoroughly Torontonian. 

Toronto Arts Foundation is proud to announce the finalists for the 2017 Signature Awards. Winners will be announced at the annual Mayor’s Arts Lunch Wednesday May 17. 

ARTS FOR YOUTH AWARD 

  • The Artists Mentoring Youth Project 
  • Rise Edutainment 
  • Unity Charity 

EMERGING ARTIST AWARD 

  • Anique Jordan - multi-disciplinary artist, award-winning writer, scholar and social-entrepreneur 
  • Karen Ng -saxophonist 
  • Amber Williams-King - multi-disciplinary artist 

THE MURIEL SHERRIN AWARD FOR THE ARTS

  • Karen Kaeja - performer, a choreographer, a filmmaker, co-creative director, mentor, teacher, community builder
  • Yvonne Ng - dancer, choreographer, presenter, curator and arts educator. 

MARGO BINDHARDT AND RITA DAVIES AWARD 

  • Mark Hammond - performing arts manager, impresario, presenter, mentor and consultant 
  • Jacoba Knaapen - cultural leader and administrator 
  • Sandra Laronde - cultural leader, arts innovator 

The winner of the TORONTO ARTS AND BUSINESS AWARD will be announced at the Mayor’s Arts Lunch May 17. 

“They are an astonishing, inspiring and diverse group who have given us so much in so many different ways,” said Toronto Arts Foundation CEO Claire Hopkinson. 

This is the 12th year of the Mayor’s Arts Lunch, a gathering that brings together leaders of the arts, government and business to celebrate the priceless benefits that the artistic community and their many generous benefactors bring to the life of Toronto.

The Jurors, celebrated artists and cultural leaders themselves, were: Franco Boni, Denise Fujiwara, Cynthia Lickers-Sage, Allen MacInnis, Vicky Moufawad-Paul, Michie Mee, Debashis Sinha, Clyde Wagner. 

For more details about the nominees and the awards, go to http://www.torontoartsfoundation.org/awards/awards-programs

Toronto Arts Foundation is a charitable organization that sparks creative connections, spotlights artistic excellence, and support vibrant cultural growth throughout our diverse city, through private sector investment. 

For more information or to book an interview with the nominees or Claire Hopkinson: 

Sean Mallen, cell: 416-602-9772, sean@seanmallencommunications.com