2020 Hamilton Arts Awards Recipients Announced
HAMILTON, ON - The City of Hamilton is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2020 Hamilton Arts Awards, presented in a series of web-based video episodes during Hamilton Arts Week, June 12 through 20.
Five pre-produced videos featured performances by local artists Hamilton Youth Poets and Ellis, messages from City leadership, nominee profiles, and the announcement of the 19 Award recipients profiled below.
Lifetime Achievement, Arts Innovation and all discipline-specific recipients received a $2,500 cash prize and bronze medallion; Emerging Artist recipients received $1,000; and the Shirley Elford Emerging Artist Prize recipient received $2,000. A total of $35,000 was awarded in 2020.
Award nominations are submitted by community members. An independent jury comprised of discipline-specific artists and arts professionals evaluates and selects the strongest nominations, based on each nominee’s work, career, and reception by the arts community at large. Nominations must achieve a minimum benchmark score to be eligible for the award.
The online format, necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic, allowed for expanded recipient profiles which included performances, demonstrations, video screenings and stirring speeches.
Video presentations can be viewed on the City website at https://www.hamilton.ca/city-awards/arts-awards/about-arts-awards.
“With the pandemic challenging us to connect in new and virtual ways, the 2020 Arts Awards video series provided an opportunity to celebrate and learn more about the award recipients through performances, studio visits, and dynamic presentations. The Arts Awards videos are a powerful reminder of the strength of Hamilton’s arts scene and illustrate the inspirational work of artists in our city.”
-Mayor Fred Eisenberger
Lifetime Achievement Award
Susan Evans Shaw
Susan Evans Shaw’s passion for history, be it family, local or Canadian has generated newspaper articles, contributions to anthologies, and three published books: one on early Hamilton architecture and two guides to Canadian battlefields in Europe. Her fondness for literature is inborn. Membership in literary committees is by choice. She lives in a Hamilton high-rise with her two cats, Lotte and Mitzi.
Arts Innovation Award
Radha S. Menon
Artist-in-Residence at McMaster University’s School of the Arts and recipient of the City of Hamilton’s Theatre Award, Menon is an interdisciplinary artist. Her plays and short films have been presented at arts festivals in Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States. Menon is an activist, arts educator, founder of Red Betty Theatre and holds an MFA in Creative Writing.
Arts Management Award
Abedar Kamgari is a visual artist, independent curator, and arts administrator. She is an active member of COBRA and advocates for opportunities for artists from equity-seeking groups. Abedar is currently the Programming Director at Hamilton Artists Inc. where she leads the organization’s programming vision through its exhibitions, public programs and community events.
Abedar has selected Mashal Khan as her Emerging Artist. Mashal is a multi media artist that hopes to subvert and resist oppressive gazes by focusing on preserving and documenting stillness, joy and whimsical moments felt by her and other womxn of colour.
Dance and Performing Arts Award
Josh Taylor is a dancer, choreographer and artist-educator based in Hamilton, where he is the Owner and Artistic Director of Defining Movement Dance. Specializing in Hip-Hop and Street Dance, Josh uses strong narratives and themes in his choreography and performances, exploring Hip-Hop culture, pop culture and socio-political issues.
Josh has selected Janessa Pudwell as his Emerging Artist. Janessa is a dance artist, choreographer and instructor who is dedicated to mastering her craft to share with the community and next generation.
Fine Craft Award
Andrew Kellner received a diploma from Sheridan College in 2003, a BFA in 2005 from the Alberta College of Art and Design, and a MFA in 2017 from West Virginia University. In addition to keeping a home studio, Andrew continues to contribute to the ceramics community by teaching local ceramic classes
Andrew has selected Angela Busse as their Emerging Artist. Angela is a multimedia artist working in both ceramic and printmaking
Media Arts Award
Cher Obediah is Seneca / Ojibway from Six Nations. She’s a filmmaker, workshop facilitator, a writer, speaker and certified fitness instructor. Born in Brantford, Ontario Cher started in theatre at age ten. She followed that passion through television and film. She is dedicated to inspiring social change and motivating others to recognize their worth.
Cher has selected Andréa Williams as her Emerging Artist. Andréa, spirit name Maiingankwe from the Turtle Clan, is a proud Black Indigenous woman and community educator using her emerging videography and photography skills to capture Indigenous ways of knowing and being through a digital lens, so that this generation can move forward carrying both traditional and new ways with them.
Music Award
Abigail Richardson-Schulte is an international award-winning composer. She has been Composer-in-Residence for the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra since 2012 and frequently hosts presentations and education workshops across the region. Her most famous work, The Hockey Sweater, has been performed over 150 times by orchestras across Canada and France.
Abigail has selected Liam Ritz as her Emerging Artist. Liam is a composer who works in the field of chamber and orchestral concert music.
Theatre Award
Kelly Wolf is a Theatre Maker, a Set and Costume designer and an Artist Educator. A determined dreamer and explorer, she has created designs for theatres across Canada. Productions with her company Open Heart explore site-specific theatre creation, foregrounding the site in the story telling while investigating current social issues.
Kelly has selected Carlyn Rhamey as her Emerging Artist. Carlyn is a storyteller, theatre creator and co-founder of Squirrel Suit Productions.
Visual Arts Award
Matt McInnes is an established printmaker based in Dundas, Ontario. His artistic process is informed by over 14 years as an arts educator. He uses the didactic and collaborative nature of these experiences in combination with affective drawings and the versatility of printmaking to document forgotten or overlooked regional histories.
Matt has selected Michael Schnittker as his Emerging Artist. Michael is a printmaker/artist with a focus on screen printing.
Writing Award
Anne Bokma is an award-winning journalist and author of My Year of Living Spiritually: One Woman's Secular Quest for a More Soulful Life, published by Douglas & McIntyre. She is the founder of the 6-Minute Memoir project, which brings together Hamilton storytellers to share tales on a theme.
Anne has selected Jaclyn Desforges as her Emerging Artist. Jaclyn writes books for adults and kids and teaches cozy writing workshops in the GTA and online.
Shirley Elford Emerging Artist Prize
2020 Shirley Elford Emerging Artist Prize in Arts Education and Community Arts
Jasmin Glaw is a self-taught Indigenous Artist and advocate of the Algonquins of Pikwàkanagàn First Nation and German descent. As a visual artist and maker, Jasmin’s work in wearable designs uses beadwork and natural materials. Major themes of her work are traditional knowledge, as well as identity and belonging.
Emerging Artists and Award Sponsors
Each award winner in a discipline specific category selected an Emerging Artist for recognition. Each Emerging Artist received a monetary prize of $1,000 to support the development of their work. Local businesses financially contributed to the 2020 Arts Awards Program to make these emerging artist prizes possible and representatives were on hand to present the awards and connect with deserving nominees. The City of Hamilton gratefully acknowledges these organizations, and the Reception and In-Kind sponsors for their generous contributions:
Arts Management Award – BLR, LLP Chartered Professional Accountants
Media Arts Award – dpai Architecture Inc
Theatre Award – The Incite Foundation for the Arts
Visual Arts Award – IPC Securities, Next Steps Planning
Dance and Performing Arts Award – Core Urban Inc.
MEDIA SPONSOR – The Hamilton Spectator
PHOTOGRAPHY SPONSOR – Banko Media
PRINT SPONSOR – Reprodux
IN-KIND SPONSOR – View Magazine
Quick Facts
- The City of Hamilton Arts Awards is one of the oldest municipally-led arts awards programs in Canada.
- The program celebrates and builds awareness of the valued contribution that artists make to Hamilton, demonstrates the City’s pride in Hamilton’s arts community, inspires and enhances success, fosters growth and develops talent.
- The Hamilton Arts Awards program is managed by the Tourism and Culture Division of the City of Hamilton.
- Cobalt Connects, the 2020 Arts Awards community partner, oversees the adjudication process and event production.
Additional Resources
- 2020 Hamilton Arts Awards recipient profiles and award videos: www.hamilton.ca/artsawards
- Hamilton Arts Council, Arts Week: www.hamiltonartscouncil.ca/artsweek