Nominations are now open for the 2020 Toronto Arts Foundation Awards
The Toronto Arts Foundation Awards recognize Toronto's finest artists, arts organizations, and arts supporters, celebrating their contributions to our creative city.
TORONTO, November 21, 2019 – Nominations are now being accepted for the 2020 Toronto Arts Foundation Awards. The Awards celebrate artistic excellence, cultural leadership and contribution to the arts by artists and arts supporters in Toronto. Anyone may submit a nomination, including arts supporters, artists, arts managers and board directors.
Five awards are being offered in 2020:
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 the 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.
Roy Thomson Hall Award of Recognition – The Roy Thomson Hall Award of Recognition is a $10,000 cash prize presented to an individual, ensemble or organization to recognize creative, performing, administrative, volunteer or philanthropic contributions to Toronto’s musical life. This award was established by the Volunteer Committee of Roy Thomson Hall in 1984 to recognize and thank the community that supported the conception, building and establishment of the new concert hall. Toronto Arts Foundation has managed the award since 2002 on behalf of the Corporation of Massey Hall and Roy Thomson Hall. The Roy Thomson Hall Award of Recognition is part of our Signature Awards, presented every two years at the Mayor's Arts Lunch.
Celebration of Cultural Life Awards – The Celebration of Cultural Life Awards recognize excellence in three of Toronto’s senior arts practitioners. Each award, which embraces the spirit of Toronto Arts Council founding president William Kilbourn, celebrates an individual performer, teacher, administrator and/or creator in any arts discipline, including architecture and design, whose work is a celebration of life through the arts. The topmost recipient will receive at $10,000 cash prize and two finalists will each receive a $2,000 cash prize. Established in 2017, these awards are generously sponsored by Arthur Dalfen. The Celebration of Cultural Life Awards is part of our Signature Awards and will be 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 accompanying support material where required.
Toronto Arts Foundation will host an information session on January 10, 2020 for those wishing to learn more about the nomination process, including who is eligible, what makes a strong nomination, and how to get started on your nomination. For details, visit our Facebook page here.
The deadline to nominate an organization, collective or individual for the Signature Awards is February 3, 2020 at 11:59 p.m. EST. These awards will be presented in May 2020 as part of the Foundation’s annual Mayor’s Arts Lunch.
The deadline to nominate an individual for the Emerging Jazz Artist Award is February 17, 2020 at 11:59 p.m. EST. This award will be presented in June 2020 at the TD Jazz Festival.
For more information about the awards, or to learn more about making a nomination, visit torontoartsfoundation.org/awards.
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 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, at rupal@torontoartscouncil.org or at 416-392-6802 x 209
For more information about Toronto Arts Foundation, please contact: Tabassum Siddiqui, Interim Communications Manager, at tabassum@torontoarts.org or at 416-392-6802 x 217