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. A video highlighting the past 13 years of the Arts & Culture Awards can be viewed online.
Arts & Culture Awards Criteria and Process
The nomination process is simple and requires only a brief description of the nominee’s contributions.
Who is eligible? |
To qualify, the nominee must be a resident of the County of Dufferin. Any individual, agency, organization, or community group may nominate an individual, organization or business for any award category listed. Arts and culture can include visual, music, dance, film, theatre, or written mediums, but also embraces culinary arts, parades, festivals, community events, design, and much more. Past award recipients and nominees are eligible to be nominated again. Self-nominations are accepted. A list of past recipients can be found below. |
How are recipients selected? |
An independent panel of judges from outside the County of Dufferin will review the nominations and choose the recipients. To ensure the judges are fully aware of the nominee’s contribution to the arts and culture in our community, a clear and concise written description must be given and should list all relevant activities and achievements. |
How do I nominate someone? |
Complete an online nomination by Wednesday, August 17 by 4 p.m. Please include a detailed description outlining the outstanding contributions and background of the nominee. Digital copies of support materials can also be provided.
Upon receipt of a nomination by the Town, nominees must accept their nomination. They will then receive a copy of the nomination details (without the nominator information) and be given the opportunity to provide any further information for the judges. Deadline for nominee forms is Thursday, September 1, 2022. |
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 emerging artist in our community who is in the early years of his/her career. |
Student Artist of the Year |
Honours a young emerging student artist in the community who is currently studying full-time. |
Community Arts Volunteer |
Honours an individual who has advocated for or contributed to the arts and culture of our community through volunteer service or donations of time or creative talent. |
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. |
Past award recipients
Since 2010, over 90 deserving recipients have been recognized by winning an Arts and Culture Award. Prior to 2022, past winners were not eligible to win the same award again in the same category.
Established Artist of the Year |
2022: Leisa Way 2021: Emilia Perri 2020: Ann Randeraad 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 |
2022: Mari Kato 2021: Katrina Creelman 2020: Ela Unger 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 |
2022: Hemani & Malini Singh 2021: Jim Waddington 2020: Wayne Townsend 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 |
2022: e.Hofmann Plastics 2021: Old Mill Hub 2020: Artsploration 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 |
2022: Emily Gilbart 2021: Arlo Sun 2020: Adam DeWitte 2019: Sara Rose 2018: Andrew Maycock 2017: Andrew Cleveland 2016: Ricky Schaede Note: This award was introduced in 2016. |
Arts Educator of the Year |
2022: Jada Milne 2021: Tiffany McCabe 2020: Lisa Lahue 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 |
2022: Theatre Orangeville 2021: Orangeville Business Improvement Area 2020: Optimist Club of Orangeville 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 |
2022: Dufferin County Multicultural Event 2021: Celebrate Your Awesome 2020: Beautiful Wild Art Exhibit presented by Ricky Schaede 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
|