Stage Door News
Stage Door News
Ottawa, May 31, 2012 – The 2012 winners of the Canada Council Molson Prizes are developing new Canadian voices through song and the spoken word. Dáirine Ní Mheadhra, winner of the Molson Prize in the arts, is known for producing provocative award-winning Canadian operas that have toured around the world. Keren Rice, winner of the Molson Prize in the social sciences and humanities, is recognized for her work to preserve, revitalize and document Canada’s Aboriginal languages.
Two Canada Council Molson Prizes, worth $50,000 each, are awarded every year to distinguished Canadians, one in the arts and the other in the social sciences and humanities. Established in 1964, the prize is funded from the income of a $1 million endowment given to the Canada Council by the Molson Family Foundation and recognizes the recipients’ outstanding lifetime achievements and ongoing contributions to the cultural and intellectual life of Canada. The Canada Council administers these awards in co-operation with the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) and both laureates were selected by a joint peer assessment committee.
“Breathing new life into traditional languages is a common theme of this year’s Canada Council Molson Prizes,” said Robert Sirman, Canada Council Director and CEO. “Dáirine Ní Mheadhra and Keren Rice have expanded the public reach of both contemporary opera and Aboriginal languages, and done so with an exemplary combination of innovation and excellence.”
“Our partnership with the Canada Council for the Arts for the Molson Prizes demonstrates the importance of interdisciplinary and multisectoral collaboration and highlights the breadth of scholarly and artistic excellence to Canada and the world,” said Dr. Chad Gaffield, president of SSHRC. “We congratulate Dáirine Ní Mheadhra and Keren Rice on being awarded this prestigious prize. Their contributions to Canada’s cultural heritage and scholarly excellence reflect the important role of the social sciences and humanities in our society today, and for the future.”
Photo: Dáirine Ní Mheadhra. 2012 John Lauener.
2012-05-31
Ottawa: Queen of Puddings' Dáirine Ní Mheadhra receives the Molson Prize in the arts from the Canada Council