The Town of Orangeville's annual Arts & Culture Awards recognize individuals, businesses and organizations who have contributed to arts and culture in Orangeville and Dufferin County. The awards were created to celebrate the first Canada-wide Culture Days in September 2010 and have been become an annual celebration of the community's vibrant cultural scene.

The nominees for the 2020 Arts & Culture Awards have been announced.  The community is invited to celebrate at the virtual award presentation on Thursday, October 22 at 7 p.m.  Join us online by viewing the Town of Orangeville's YouTube channel.

Group of award winners

Award categories

Eight award categories have been established and are open to residents of the County of Dufferin. 

Established Artist of the Year
Honours an established artist in our community with an extensive body of work and/or who has achieved a wide degree of recognition.
Emerging Artist of the Year
Honours an established artist in our community with an extensive body of work and/or who has achieved a wide degree of recognition. 
Student Artist of the Year
Honours a young emerging student artist in the community who is currently studying full-time.  
Community Arts Volunteer Advocate
Honours a person who has advocated for the arts and culture of our community through volunteer service. 
Arts Educator of the Year
Honours a teacher, instructor or arts specialist whose creative use of the arts enriches the learning experience of students (not restricted to schools). 
Community Impact by a Business
Honours a business that fosters and supports arts and culture in our community.  
Community Impact by an Organization
Honours an organization that fosters and supports arts and culture in our community.  
Creative Cultural Event

Honours an exhibit, performance, festival, or other event that promoted and/or contributed to arts and culture in our community.  

The definition of arts and culture is wide-reaching and can include visual, music, dance, film, theatre, or written mediums, but also embraces culinary arts, design, parades, festivals, and community events.  Judging is completed by an experienced independent panel from outside Dufferin County.

Past award recipients

Since 2010, over 70 deserving recipients have been recognized by winning an Arts and Culture Award. Past winners are not eligible to win the same award again in the same category.

 Established Artist of the Year

2019: Beckie Morris

2018: Sharon Wadsworth-Smith

2017: Leisa Way

2016: Pat Burns-Wendland

2015: Roslyn Levin

2014: Ken Hall

2013: Rosemarie Armstrong

2012: Jim Menken

2011: David Nairn

2010: Mark DuBois
 Student Artist of the Year

2019: Darcey Baker

2018: Chanelle Nguyen-Duong

2017: Jessica Anderson

2016: Megan Walmsley

2015: Colin Simmons

2014: Graham Maycock

2013: Elisabeth DuBois

2012: Andrew Cleveland

2011: Debbie Ebanks Schlum

2010: T.J. Whitelaw
 Community Arts Volunteer Advocate

2019: Teresa and Ken Huntley

2018: Jim Kurtz

2017: Harvey Kolodny

2016: Anne Jordan

2015: Gord McWilliams

2014: Gary Brown

2013: Wayne Baguley

2012: Winston Uytenbogaart

2011: Marilyn Logan

2010: Gary Vipond
Community Impact by a Business

2019: Maggiolly Art

2018: Mark’s Orangeville

2017: Orangeville Dairy Queen Grill and Chill

2016: Meridian Credit Union

2015: Lab Partners

2014: TD Canada Trust, Orangeville Branches

2013: Scotia Bank, Orangeville Branches

2012: In The Hills

2011: Dragonfly Arts on Broadway

2010: BookLore
 Emerging Artist of the Year

2019: Sara Rose

2018: Andrew Maycock

2017: Andrew Cleveland

2016: Ricky Schaede

Note: This award was introduced in 2016.
 Arts Educator of the Year

2019: Christa Davison

2018: CJ Shelton

2017: Heather Holmes

2016: Mary-Margaret Courtney

2015: Pamela Scott-Demetriou

2014: Joy Bell

2013: Laurie Moore

2012: Dana Harrold

2011: Ryan Grist

2010: Joan Borden
Community Impact by an Organization

2019: Orangeville Blues & Jazz Festival

2018: Dufferin County Cultural Resource Circle

2017: HatsOnDufferin

2016: Monday Night at the Movies

2015: Theatre Orangeville

2014: Orangeville Music Theatre

2013: Dufferin County Museum and Archives

2012: Community Living Dufferin, Click Connect Photography Group

2011: Orangeville Chorus of Sweet Adelines International

2010: Dufferin Arts Council
Creative Cultural Event

2019: The Dream at Island Lake

2018: Celebrate the Arts, Dufferin Arts Council

2017: Peter Pan, Theatre Orangeville Drama Young Company

2016: Orangeville & District Music Festival

2015: Headwaters Tourism Parade of Horses

2014: Headwaters Arts Festival

2013: The Legacy Project

2012: Dufferin Festival of the Arts

2011: Orangeville Art Group Art Shows

2010: Orangeville Blues & Jazz Festival