Stage Door News
Stage Door News
More than 300 artists, business leaders, cultural professionals and community builders gathered today for the announcement of the 2011 Toronto Arts Foundation Awards at the annual Mayor’s Arts Awards Lunch.
“Toronto’s artistic community is very present here today,” said Susan Crocker, Chair of Toronto Arts Foundation. “We are here to celebrate the creators, producers, visual and performing artists, writers, filmmakers and educators. And those who appreciate, value and enjoy the arts as audience members, volunteers, donors, sponsors and policy makers — you are the critical partners of the arts community in making Toronto come alive for its citizens.”
Claire Hopkinson, Executive Director of Toronto Arts Foundation added, “Our artists play a vital role in writing the on-going cultural history of this great city. We continue to help them expand their reach ensuring that residents in every corner of the city are given opportunities to participate in transformative arts activities.”
The winners of the 2011 Toronto Arts Foundation Awards are:
Arts for Youth Award - Canadian Contemporary Dance Theatre
Canadian Contemporary Dance Theatre is a Toronto repertory company founded by Artistic Director Deborah Lundmark and Managing Director Michael deConinck Smith in 1980 to present gifted next-generation artists in professional productions. Since 2000, CCDT has conducted over one hundred Ontario Community Residencies engaging 160,000 students and teachers with mainstage performances expressly crafted for young audiences. Other presentation highlights include an appearance at Toronto’s Princess of Wales Theatre for the Creative Trust Gala, tours to Singapore, Malaysia and China, two appearances at Dancers for Life and five invitations to the Canada Dance Festival in Ottawa. CCDT received a $15,000 cash prize. The two finalists Theatre Direct and Young People’s Theatre received $2,000 each.
Toronto Arts and Business Award - TD Bank Group
TD Bank Group plays a leadership role in the cultural development of Canada’s next generation of artists and audiences. Perhaps best known for its sponsorship of major music festivals, TD also supports cultural education programs and increases accessibility to those programs among Canadian children and youth. From student rush ticket programs to tours to remote communities, TD helps performing arts organizations engage and inspire the next generation. TD is one of Toronto’s – and Canada’s – most important champions of arts education.
RBC Emerging Artist Award - Adam Garnet Jones
Adam Garnet Jones is a young Aboriginal (Cree/Métis) director and filmmaker. A graduate of Ryerson University’s film program, his short films include Cloudbreaker and A Small Thing, both chosen for screening at the Toronto International Film Festival. Adam has served on the board of the imagineNATIVE film festival, and from 2005-2007 coordinated 7th Generation Image Makers, a program geared towards at-risk inner-city youth. In 2007 he received a rare honour when the Canadian House of Commons screened Cloudbreaker on Parliament Hill to mark the U.N. Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. He has worked as a film programmer for the Inside Out film festival and was appointed to the Ontario Film Review Board in 2009. Adam Garnet Jones received a $7,500 cash prize, and the two finalists Reza Jacobs and Donna-Michelle St. Bernard received $1,000 each.
Muriel Sherrin Award for International Achievement in Music – Dr. Trichy Sankaran
Dr. Trichy Sankaran is a globally-respected artist, composer, educator and cultural ambassador, who consistently demonstrates mastery, creativity, ingenuity, humility and devotion. Since his professional debut at age 13, Trichy Sankaran has had a prolific international performing career, appearing as a featured musician at major music festivals and cultural events in Europe, Australia, North America and Asia, including the highly celebrated World Drum concerts at Expo 86 (Vancouver), Expo 88 (Brisbane) and Expo 2000 (Hanover). As an active contributor to the music scene in Canada, he has composed a dynamic body of work that bridges the musical traditions of both India and the West. Collaborations include performances with New Music, jazz, Western Classical music, world fusion and internationally-recognized Carnatic and Hindustani musicians, such as Zakir Hussain, U. Srinivas, Hariprasad Chaurasia. Dr. Sankaran received a $10,000 cash prize.
Rita Davies and Margo Bindhardt Cultural Leadership Award – Jane Marsland
Jane Marsland is an articulate advocate for the arts and has served on a wide range of boards, advisory groups and committees for many years. Jane was co-founder and director of ARTS 4 CHANGE, a three-year program designed to create positive change for and by arts professionals in Toronto, as well as co-founder and Director of Technical
Assistance of the Creative Trust: Working Capital for the Arts. Ms. Marsland has managed arts organizations since 1970 and was General Manager of the Danny Grossman Dance Company from 1982 to 1999. Since 1999, Jane has been working as a freelance arts consultant and has worked with more than 90 arts organizations. She has been the recipient of two arts community awards: a “Harold” in 2001 and the Sandra Tulloch Award for Innovation in the Arts in 2002. In 1995, she received the first M. Joan Chalmers Award for Arts Administration for outstanding leadership in the arts. Jane Marsland received a $10,000 cash prize.
Each award winner also received an original work of art by Katie Bethune-Leamen, commissioned by Toronto Arts Foundation.
For more information on the awards visit www.torontoartsfoundation.org.
Toronto Arts Foundation exists to provide the creative opportunity for donors to support the arts in Toronto. TAF believes that a great city demands great art, and by supporting, celebrating, financing and advocating for Toronto’s local artists, we’re improving the quality of life of all Torontonians. Although separate entities, the Toronto Arts Council and Toronto Arts Foundation benefit by being run as sister organizations, ensuring close contact with the arts sector in Toronto and an ongoing awareness of activities and needs throughout the community. For more information on the awards and the work of the Toronto Arts Foundation, please visit www.torontoarts.org/awards.html.
2011-10-20
Toronto: Winners of the 2011 Toronto Arts Foundation Awards announced