Celebrate Hamilton’s Arts Community at the 2016 City of Hamilton Arts Awards - June 9 at the Scottish Rite Club

Hamilton, ON – April 11, 2016 – The City of Hamilton will host its annual celebration of Hamilton’s dynamic arts community at the 2016 Arts Awards ceremony on Thursday, June 9 at the Scottish Rite Club (4 Queen Street South) as part of Hamilton Arts Week.

The evening will start with a catered reception on the grounds of The Scottish Rite Club with performances, art installations and guided tours of the building at 6:00 pm. The awards ceremony, honouring local artists and their achievements, will start at 7:30 pm and feature performances and live music.

The City of Hamilton Arts Awards is free to attend and tickets are reserved on a first-come, first-served basis. To reserve your tickets, call 905-546-2424 ext. 4270.

This year $33,000 will be awarded to artists in ten categories, including the City of Hamilton Arts Award for Lifetime Achievement and the first-ever Arts Innovation Award. This new award will recognize an arts leader who currently demonstrates exemplary vision, innovation, creativity, and excellence in their field and has fostered the growth of the local arts sector.

About the City of Hamilton Arts Awards

First presented in 1976, the Hamilton Arts Awards program is one of the oldest in Canada. It continues to recognize the vital contributions of the city’s arts sector and to celebrate the exceptional achievements of individual artists and organizations.

The Hamilton Arts Awards program is managed by the Tourism and Culture Division. Cobalt Connects, the 2016 Arts Awards community partner, oversees the adjudication process and awards event production. An independent jury comprised of discipline-specific artists and arts professionals evaluates all nominations.

For more information, including a list of this year’s 62 nominated artists, visit www.hamilton.ca/artsawards, email [email protected] or call 905-546-2424 ext. 4270.

For high resolution photos from previous City of Hamilton Arts Awards, please email [email protected].

For more information about Hamilton Arts Week, taking place June 5 to 11, visit www.hamiltonartscouncil.ca/artsweek.