St. Catharines opens art award nominations for local talent

St. Catharines is set to recognize its best and brightest artists with their annual art awards, and residents can make sure their favorite gets a chance to win.

The City endeavors to “recognize and celebrate the arts” through these awards. “The 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,” said St. Catharines.

For the first time, the City no longer requires nominators to put together a portfolio of the prospective nominee’s work. Instead they need only a recommendation letter and the artist’s contact information.

From there St. Catharines will follow up with the artist directly to review their work.

Only artists living in the city, or who have made a significant contribution to it, are eligible for a nomination. However, the artist may not need to still be alive as St Catharines will consider posthumous awards.

Nominations are accepted from individuals and organizations, but one cannot nominate themselves. Each nominator can submit one name per category in a given year.

These categories include;

• Arts in Education Award for an artist who “demonstrated an outstanding commitment to engaging St. Catharines’ residents through arts education activities,”
• Emerging Artist Award for “current accomplishments alongside future potential” to artists still establishing their career,
• Established Artist Award for an artist who “received critical recognition for their art in St. Catharines and beyond,”
• Making a Difference Award for an artist who “significantly contributed to the growth and development of arts and culture in St. Catharines,” and finally,
• Patron of the Arts Award for ” an individual, business or organization that has made a meaningful contribution to the arts.”

Each winner, save the Patron, will receive $500 and a hand-crafted award statue. The Patron award includes the statue alone. An independent jury of three local artists and a member of the Arts and Culture Advisory Committee will evaluate each nominee

The nomination period opened on Friday June 17 and runs for one month until July 18. Nominators can send in the online form.