Ontario celebrates excellence in the arts
May 15, 2008 11:36 AM
McGuinty Government Announces Finalists for Premier’s Awards
The winning artist will receive $35,000 and will select a new or emerging artist to receive a prize of $15,000. The winning arts organization will be awarded $50,000. The remaining finalists will each receive $2,000.
This is the first year that the Premier's Awards for Excellence in the Arts has honoured both an individual artist and an arts organization.
The finalists in the artist category are:
- Afua Cooper, of Toronto (Literature)
- David Earle, of Guelph (Dance)
- Michael Fortune, of Lakefield (Crafts)
- Ron Noganosh, of Ottawa (Visual Arts)
- Alex Pauk, of Toronto (Music)
- Tim Whiten, of Toronto (Visual Arts)
The finalists in the arts organization category are:
- Coach House Books, of Toronto (Literature - Cultural Industries)
- Guelph Jazz Festival, of Guelph (Music)
- Hot Docs, of Toronto (Media Arts - Cultural Industries)
- Lorraine Kimsa Theatre for Young People, of Toronto (Theatre)
- Ojibwe Cultural Foundation, of M'Chigeeng (Arts Centre)
- Réseau Ontario, of Ottawa (Performing Arts)
QUICK FACTS
- The Premier’s Awards for Excellence in the Arts are administered by the Ontario Arts Council.
- Over 250,000 people earn their living in Ontario’s culture sector.
- The culture sector generates $19.7 billion of Ontario’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
LEARN MORE
ontario.ca/culture
"I'd like to congratulate each of our honourees, thank them for their creativity and for choosing to call Ontario home. Not only do our artists enrich our lives, but they play an important role in helping our economy prosper and grow by showing us what it means to innovate, and making Ontario a destination for the world's talent — in every field."
– Dalton McGuinty
Premier of Ontario
"The Premier’s Awards for Excellence in the Arts recognize the vital contribution that artists and arts organizations make to communities across Ontario. This year’s finalists exemplify the creativity that drives innovation and progress in our province"
– Aileen Carrol
Minister of Culture
Communities
