Awards & Tributes
Arts Awards Short List
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Arts Awards
2025 Arts Awards Nominations Open
Nominate local artists, arts community leaders and arts champions for a 2025 Arts Award! Nominees are considered based on their work, impact on their field and contributions to the arts community in Hamilton.
Nomination deadline December 9, 2024
The City Hamilton is pleased to announce the 2024 Arts Awards Short List.
These remarkable local artists, arts collectives, arts community leaders and volunteers have been named to the 2024 City of Hamilton Arts Awards Short List in three categories:
Lifetime Achievement Award (5 shortlisted)
Recognizes those who have contributed substantially to the artistic vitality of the city over the course of a career.
Sponsored by IPC Next Steps Planning
Creator Award (29 shortlisted)
Conferred to individual artists and artistic collectives (including bands) working in any artistic discipline and at any career level.
Sponsored by BLR, LLP
Arts Champion Award (9 shortlisted)
Honours the work of arts sector volunteers, advocates, or board members who are essential in supporting success in the arts community.
Sponsored by Incite Foundation
Hamilton Arts Awards
2024 ARTS AWARD SHORT LIST
A panel of arts sector experts have reviewed public nominations and selected the 2024 Short List. Award recipients will be announced and celebrated at Westinghouse HQ on June 5, 2024 as part of Hamilton Arts Week.
One Lifetime Achievement Award is conferred annually to recognize living artists or arts managers who have contributed substantially to the artistic vitality of the city over the course of a career, and have inspired others through their leadership, creativity and artistic excellence. These individuals’ experience and impact may be local, national or international in scope.
Astrid Hepner
Astrid Hepner, a seasoned performer, educator, and music executive, relocated from New York City to Hamilton in 2005. As Founder/CEO of the Hamilton Music Collective, she's shaped the city's cultural landscape. Notably, her leadership introduced the acclaimed program "An Instrument For Every Child," offering over $2.4 million worth of music lessons to 9000+ children since 2008.
Gary Smith
Gary Smith was born in Hamilton and grew up in his grandmother’s theatrical boarding house. Gary learned about life from her nomadic tenants and spent his childhood in the old movie theatres on King Street. Through teaching, writing and directing plays and musicals, he has celebrated Hamilton and the theatre here.
John Balogh 'JohnyB'
John Balogh helped shape the Hamilton Music Scene, as a music promoter, for 51 yrs. In the early 70’s, John advocated for emerging bands, providing a performance platform for youth, and free to enjoy. Over his career, including covid, he’s booked approx. 16,000 shows, in every genre and always inclusive.
Joe Rhodes
Joe Rhodes has been performing and promoting Blues and R&B in the Hamilton community since the 1960’s. Joe has performed with notable artists including Wilson Pickett, The Ink Spots and Jackie Washington. Joe is the recipient of the John C. Holland Award of Merit, past Chair of the City of Hamilton Committee Against Racism and organizer of Emancipation Day celebrations.
Melissa Murray-Mutch
Melissa Murray-Mutch, an accomplished actor, writer, & arts educator living in Hamilton. Co-founder of Gritty City Theatre Company, exploring race & class issues. Melissa is the co-education coordinator at Theatre Aquarius. Acting work includes: "Bike," & "Ginny and Georgia". The Board Chair for Centre 3 & a Playwrights Guild member.
Up to four Arts Champion Awards may be conferred annually to living individuals who are outstanding supporters of the arts in Hamilton as volunteers, advocates, or board members. This is a non-monetary award and recipients will be given a special gift of recognition. This award is open to students and youth over 14 years old.
Ashley Reaume
Ashley Reaume is the Event Chair for Imagine In The Park, a free children's arts festival held annually at Gage Park on the first weekend in June. She has been a key volunteer in the planning committee for the last 8 years. The festival brings in about 3,000 patrons each year.
HAMILTON CITY Magazine
HAMILTON CITY Magazine is a print and digital publication covering arts, culture, food and drink, city life, urban issues, events, innovators and changemakers since September 2022. Each issue celebrates, educates, informs and entertains. We are a locally owned and independent media voice, paying for the work of local creators.
Katie Sadie
Katie Sadie is a practicing photographer based in Hamilton, Ontario. Noticing a gap in the photo community, Katie opened a photobook shop, gallery and cafe called ROONEY'S in 2022. Since then, ROONEY'S has exhibited a large number of photographers on their gallery wall, hosted multiple artistic workshops, and artist talks.
Ken Wallis
Ken Wallis is the volunteer host of the syndicated radio show BluesSource Canada for 12 years on Mohawk’s INDI 101.5 FM and on the Sound Café global podcast. Ken writes for Hamilton City Magazine, the Sound Café Magazine, and is President of the local music incentive, The Escarpment Blues Society.
Light Lounge (Carmella Dolmer & Trina Hetherington)
Carmella and Trina are writers, artists, and dear friends. As creators and co-hosts of a grassroots open-mic series named Light Lounge, they have created a safe space for both new and experienced readers to share in the magic of collective vulnerability.
Linda Fraser
Linda promotes the Hamilton music scene through marketing, fundraising, event planning, etc. through Hamilton Blues Lovers, Escarpment Blues Society, Creative Arts, Hamilton Musicians' Guild, Carnegie Gallery, Grand River Blues Society, multiple festivals, performers, venues and more. She created and produces Cable 14’s Ensemble!, showcasing area music to a wider community.
Mary Flynn
Mary Flynn is a catalyst who brings together creatives, arts professionals and community. She promotes connection through her Back Alley Gallery where artists can meet to discuss their artistic practice. The gallery also provides workshops for the public, a series of exhibits highlighting local artists and support for community artists.
Melanin Market (Khadija Hamidu)
Khadija Hamidu is the founder and creator of Melanin Market, a community artist page that promotes and champions a diverse group of melanated artist of all disciplines in the Hamilton region. As a leader in community and economic development in the city, Khadija spotlights and celebrates diversity in the arts.
Noelle Allen
Noelle Allen is the publisher of Wolsak and Wynn, a small press on James Street North. She is the organizer for Sharp Words: Hamilton’s Winter Book Fair and works with Supercrawl to program the author talks. She is the past-chair of gritLIT and has long contributed to the literary community.
The Creator Awards recognize living artists or artistic collectives working in any artistic discipline and at any career level. A minimum of eight Creator Awards will be given each year to recognize artistic excellence and / or innovation that contributes to artistic growth in the city, progresses the artform and expresses the cultural vitality and diversity of Hamilton’s art scene.
Aeris Körper Contemporary Dance
Aeris Körper is a professional dance company that creates, presents, and facilitates dance that explores, questions, reflects and reveals connections across race, gender, sexuality, age, identity, ability and experience. Since 2014, Aeris Körper has been presenting thought-provoking live choreographic works, hosting community platforms, and leading accessible movement workshops.
Alex Jacobs-Blum
Alex Jacobs-Blum is a Gayogo̱hó꞉nǫʼ (Cayuga) and German visual artist and curator based in Hamilton, ON. Her research focuses on Indigenous futurities and accessing embodied Ancestral Hodinöhsö:ni' knowledge. The core of her practice and methodology is a strong foundation in community building, fostering relationships, empowering youth, and Indigenizing institutional spaces.
Bawaadan Collective
As a majority Indigenous collective of artists, Bawaadan is dedicated to evolving collective methods for modern artistic storytelling and film production. Bawaadan regularly works with First Nations communities to produce diverse educational, creative, instructional, and storytelling videos. Bawaadan has produced works alongside the Woodland Cultural Centre, Moccasin Identifier project, Indigenous Relations team (City of Hamilton) and the CBC Documentary “Inside the Statue Wars”.
Birdie Gerhl
Birdie Gerhl is an emerging multidisciplinary artist who makes things for weirdos who want to touch art. She creates interactive, multisensory installations combining drawing, video, textile, and zine projects that evolve over time and invite us to locate disability and difference not in our bodies, but in our relationships.
Chasing Shadows Productions
Chasing Shadows Productions is the creative partnership of Singer-Songwriter Will Gillespie and Visual Artist Susan Robinson. Exclusively creating new, original work with a focus on musicals and comedies from a uniquely Canadian perspective. Susan creates the props, costumes, backdrops. Will writes and performs all the words and music.
CinePsych Film Team
Formed in 2017 by Dr. Nadeem Akhtar, a Psychiatrist and Associate Professor at McMaster University, the CinePsych film-making team is comprised of trainee Psychiatrists, Medical students and Mental Health clinicians. Their mission is to accurately portray mental illness, combat stigma, and counter misleading depictions prevalent in mainstream media.
Clear Eyes Collective
Painting murals professionally as a team for 7+ years, their mission is to integrate the mysterious power of art into the cityscape, transforming ordinary spaces into immersive galleries. Their approach to public art has always been rooted in creating vibrant visual environments that connect and uplift the community at large.
Dawn Grant
Dawn Grant is a multi-disciplinary artist, contributing to artistic nuances of productions, projects and creative spaces. She develops characters, creates props, and designs thought-provoking works of wearable art. As a Therapeutic Art Practitioner, she facilitates safe spaces of art making to assist individuals in self-exploration and understanding.
Delio Delgado
Delio Delgado is an established Canadian/Dominican artist based out of Hamilton, Ontario. His practice often includes manipulation of Canadian territory maps, terrain elevation blueprints on a large scale, either paper or canvas and imagery that dives into geometrical lyrical abstractions with composition elements and referent of the golden ratio.
Gordon Leverton
A self-taught artist, Gordon Leverton's love of the urban environment has informed his painting practice, placing landscape and architectural design at the forefront. His portrayal of the city’s architectural elements rendered with flattened perspective, bright colours, and strong play of light and shadow has become his signature style.
Hitoko Okada
Hitoko Okada is a queer, Nikkei, interdisciplinary artist. Their artistic, and fashion practices explore the colonial histories, geopolitics and labour of the global fashion supply chain, and their impacts on heritage textile folk crafts and ancestral knowledge. Okada’s social practice seeks to nourish belonging and connection within minoritized communities.
Ian Ross Pettigrew
Getting his start in advertising in the 90s, Ian Ross Pettigrew has been a professional photographer for almost 20 years. Specializing in portraits and commercial work, Ian also takes on important personal projects like his books for Cystic Fibrosis and his most recent book about Hamilton artisans.
Jae Cabrera
Jae Cabrera, a Singer/Songwriter merging R&B and Pop, enchants audiences with soulful tunes reflecting his artistic diversity. From collaborations with industry giants to solo hits like "Love Tomorrow," his journey from humble beginnings to radio recognition showcases passion, perseverance, and commitment to social causes, solidifying his place in music.
Jennifer Budd
Jennifer Budd is a vocal coach (Singer Studio), performer, recording artist, and coordinates An Instrument For Every Child / Musical Futures Camp with the Hamilton Music Collective. She played Elle Woods in Theatre Ancaster's Legally Blonde (2023), won “Best New Artist” at the Hamilton Music Awards (2016) and won LVS’ Becoming “Standout Performance” (2021).
Julie Fazooli
Julie Fazooli is a multi-dimensional creative who was born in Paris, France, and found a home in Hamilton. Her experiences with varying cultures have led her to a flourishing career in the visual arts, television and film production, DJing, photography, workshop instruction, and coordinating events, creating fun wherever she goes.
Kayla Whitney
Kayla Whitney is a Hamilton-based artist, muralist and community engager who has been making public art in Hamilton since 2017. She is so grateful to live this weird magical life where she can use her art to serve communities, support what she believes in and connect with other humanbeings.
Kyle Joedicke
Kyle Joedicke is a self-taught Cayuga Woodland artist whose work conveys the stories of his Haudenosaunee cultural heritage. His work reflects the indigenous presence in the city and blends contemporary art forms with the traditional knowledge of his background.
Lesley Loksi Chan
Lesley Loksi Chan has contributed to many arts organizations across Hamilton through her leadership and programming of artist-driven projects and events including exhibitions, workshops, residencies, artist talks, symposia and media productions. With a background in anthropology and filmmaking, she highlights diverse, experimental and collaborative practices in contemporary art and culture.
Lyla Miklos
Lyla Miklos is a broadcast journalist, community organizer, education worker, publicist, vocalist and writer. Lyla’s queer, feminist, sex-positive, social justice activism informs her work. Lyla uses her powerful voice, evocative language, creative talents and organizational skills to connect communities, educate citizens, celebrate artists and liberate humanity.
Marta Hewson
Marta Hewson is a Fashion, Portrait, and Fine Art Photographer based in Hamilton. She infuses a fashion approach across all genres through her style of lighting, posing, and theme. Her personal goal is to help build confidence in her subjects and make them feel like they belong in a magazine.
Mayumou
Mayumou is a digital artist with a refreshing blend of creativity and inclusivity in the world of art. Specializing in drawing female characters, Mayumou has quickly gained recognition for her captivating style. Her art embodies a sense of warmth, inviting viewers into a world where people feel represented and appreciated.
Monday Press
Monday Press is a collective of writers, artists, and book nerds with a mission to create exciting literary events within the Hamilton community. Through nurturing under-represented and emerging talent, Monday has created a platform that fosters dynamism between writers and other collaborators, providing opportunities to reach a broader audience.
Mr. Ben
A seasoned horn player turned children's musician, Mr. Ben has been delighting young audiences since 2011. His high-energy interactive live shows and family classes engage children and grown-ups alike. Praised by Fred Penner and Grammy nominee Justin Roberts, his seven albums blend musical styles with a fresh and unique approach.
Ravinder Ruprai
Ravinder Ruprai is a unique voice as one of the few South Asian artists in Hamilton. Both an abstract painter and fibre artist, Ravinder’s work addresses dysfunctional family systems, misogyny, racism, displacement and being a woman of colour. She explores aspects of the mind/body connection, focusing on grief and trauma.
Rob Raeside
Rob Raeside is a glassblower and emerging artist based out of Hamilton, Ontario. Clean lines and shapely forms are a constant theme in Raeside’s work. He aims to design objects with a softness to them, contrasting the permanence and rigidity of glass.
Same Boat Theatre Company
Same Boat Theatre is an independent, professional theatre company founded by the creative collaboration of playwright Stephen Near and director / dramaturge Aaron Joel Craig. With a focus on new and established plays, the company is dedicated to making compelling theatre that gives voice to urgent questions facing our communities.
Simon Orpana
Simon Orpana uses graphic narrative, film, cartoons, community arts, and music to address social, historical, and political realities. His work engages with such themes as youth culture and the use of public space, labour activism, community mapping, climate change, and the housing crisis.
Steacy Easton
Steacy Easton is a writer and visual artist, originally from Edmonton, who has lived in Hamilton for more than seven years. They have written on gender, sexuality, and country music for publications including Slate, NPR, and the Atlantic Online. Upcoming books include Why Tammy Wynette Matters for University of Texas, a 33 ⅓Volume for Bloomsbury on Dolly’s White Limozeen, and a queer antimemoir of the west for Coach House. They were the 2022 Martha Street Artist Residence in Winnipeg.
Tania Denyer
Tania Denyer is an established textile artist, living in Hamilton, Ontario. From her beginnings as a quilter, she uses her extensive textile knowledge in her current work. Her art begins with a sketch and then using fabric and thread, she seeks to capture the magic of the mundane and everyday.
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