Stage Door News
Stage Door News
Toronto -- The Toronto Arts Foundation will present the names of the finalists for the 2014 Awards on June 2, 2014, at the Spoke Club. The Awards will be presented at the Mayors'* Arts Lunch on June 19. They celebrate the individuals and organizations that have made outstanding contributions to Toronto’s vibrant artistic and cultural life.
This year’s nominees were chosen by a stellar multi-disciplinary jury:
Marjorie Chan, Artistic Director, Cahoots Theatre; Alan Davis, Founder and Executive Director, Small World Music; Mervon Mehta, Executive Director, Performing Arts for The Royal Conservatory; Derek Andrews, Founder, The Toronto Blues Society, & Publisher & Editor-in-chief, Maple Blues Magazine; Mark Campbell, Creator and Account Director, VMG Cinematic; Liz Forsberg, Managing Director, Arts Starts; Gaëtane Verna, Director, The Power Plant; Cheyanne Turions, Curatorial Resident, SBC Gallery; Parul Gupta, Founder, Principal Teacher & Artistic Director, Infusion Dance Studios.
Since 2006, the Toronto Arts Foundation Awards has been shining a spotlight on Toronto’s arts and cultural sector. Foundation Chair, Susan Crocker comments: “We are producing talented artists and arts organizations at an unprecedented rate, and driving artistic excellence across the broadest range of arts disciplines.”
There are 9 awards in the Toronto Arts Foundation Awards portfolio, some presented annually while others are biennial. The 5 awards for 2014, total $46K.
Finalists
Arts for Youth Award – a $15,000 cash prize, with each finalist receiving $2,000.
Celebrating an individual, collective or organization that has demonstrated an outstanding commitment to engaging Toronto’s youth through the arts and artistic creation. Established in 2007 by Martha Burns, Jim Fleck and Sandra and Jim Pitblado. The addition of Awards for the finalist honourees was established in 2010 through the generous donation of Diana Bennett and Spencer Lanthier.
• Children’s Peace Theatre
• CUE
• Regent Park Focus Youth Media Arts Centre
The Toronto Arts and Business Award –
For a local business that has sponsored the arts for the first time and made an important contribution to the arts in Toronto through innovative, transformative and entrepreneurial partnerships. Presented in partnership with Toronto Arts Foundation, Business for the Arts and The Toronto Star, this award was established in 2006.
The Winning Business will be announced at the Mayors' Arts Lunch* on June 19.
Emerging Artist Award – A $10,000 cash prize, with finalist honourees receiving $1,000.
Celebrating the accomplishments and future potential of an emerging Toronto artist working in any discipline. Established in 2006, the award is generously sponsored by Susan Crocker and John Hunkin to support the development or completion of new work. The award given to finalist honourees was established in 2014 through the generous donation of the Bulmash – Siegel Fund.
• Maggie MacDonald
• Jordan Pal
• Jordan Tannahill
Roy Thomson Hall Award of Recognition - 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. 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.
• Continuum Contemporary Music
• The Gryphon Trio
• Michie Mee
William Kilbourn Award for the Celebration of Toronto’s Cultural Life - a $5,000 cash prize
Presented to an individual performer, teacher, administrator or creator in any arts discipline, including architecture and design, whose work is a celebration of life through the arts in Toronto. Established in 1996, this award is funded through an endowment made possible by private donors wishing to celebrate and remember the life of William Kilbourn who died in 1995. Kilbourn was a writer and teacher who spent seven years as a member of Toronto City Council, and served as Toronto Arts Council president from 1982 to 1984.
• Philip Akin, Artistic Director of Obsidian Theatre
• Esmeralda Enrique, Founder of the Academy of Spanish Dance and the Esmeralda Enrique Spanish Dance Company
• Sudha Khandwani, Founder and Artistic Director of Kalanidhi Fine Arts of Canada
Sponsors
CIBC is the new Presenting Sponsor of the Toronto Arts Foundation Awards in a two-year partnership.
The Toronto Star, NOW Magazine and The Walrus are the Toronto Arts Foundation Media Sponsors.
* This year, in celebration of the 40th Anniversary of the Toronto Arts Council, four decades of Toronto Mayors will be represented at the lunch on June 19 signifying the important role that the City has played in investing in the arts through the Toronto Arts Council. As a result, the lunch will be called the Mayors’ Arts Lunch, for this year only.
ABOUT TORONTO ARTS FOUNDATION
Toronto Arts Foundation, a charitable organization, provides the opportunity for individuals, private and public foundations, corporations and government agencies to invest in and strengthen the arts in Toronto. We are powered by a vision: Creative City: Block by Block, a commitment to connect every Toronto neighbourhood to the transformative social and economic benefits of the arts. Through sponsorships, legacy gifts and donations to our Creative City Funds, Toronto Arts Foundation gives voice to the arts, shines the spotlight on Toronto’s exceptional talent, and connects communities to the arts.
For more information on the Toronto Arts Foundation Awards and The Mayors’ Arts Lunch please visit www.torontoartsfoundation.org
2014-05-28
Toronto: 2014 Toronto Arts Foundation Awards finalists announced