We’re thrilled to present the recipients of our 2020 Queer Emerging Artists Awards, a group whose practices range broadly across artistic mediums and . Usually awarded to one  artist per year, this year’s expanded award came in response to the intensified precarity of being an artist during the pandemic. Click on the photos below to learn more about each of their work.

The award includes a $1000 prize as well as a $500 stipend towards professional development, which recipients are using for everything from courses, to mentorship opportunities and equipment costs to help further their practice.

“This year’s recipients not only represent the wonderful queer talent present in Toronto’s live performance ecology, but also how embedded community building and community care are within a queer arts practice. With that, I’d like to congratulate this year’s recipients for the work they have accomplished thus far and extend my gratitude for the work they have done, and continue to do, for our queer communities,” says Interim Programming Director Daniel Carter.

The Buddies Queer Emerging Artists Awards seeks to recognize and encourage the achievements of queer artists who are founding careers in the arts while engaging with the community. This year’s selection committee was made up of Daniel Carter, Steph Raposo, Ty Sloane, and Dainty Smith.

Originally made possible by a gift from the estate of John Alan Lee, this year’s expanded awards are funded through the Kingfisher Foundation.

The Recipients:

Ajahnis Charley - sketch comedy

Alexi Pedneault - burlesque

Alten Wilmot - theatre

Aria Evans - dance

Beeta Sedendjani - dance, burlesque, screenwriting

Brock Hessel - performance art

Ganesh Thavarajah - theatre

Kamika Peters - multidisciplinary

Kwaku Okyere - theatre

lwrds - performance art

Maher Sinno - theatre

Merlin Simard - theatre

Olivia Shortt - music

Pree Aka Sticky Mangos - interdisciplinary

Robbie Ahmed - music

Shohana Sharmin - theatre

Sofia Fly - music

St. Stella - theatre and live performance creation

Tan Vu - musical Theatre performance

Weird Alice - performance art