City of Hamilton 2021 Arts Awards virtual presentations taking place in June

HAMILTON, ON - As part of the City of Hamilton’s 2021 Arts Awards program and Hamilton Arts Week, fourteen 2021 Arts Award recipients will be announced and profiled in a series of online podcast-style episodes Thursday, June 3 to Saturday, June 12, 2021.

The episodes, which will celebrate the talent and resiliency of Hamilton artists and the arts community, will air on the Arts Awards Facebook Page and City of Hamilton YouTube Channel, and be posted on the Arts Awards webpages.

Stand-up comedian Gavin Stephens will hold a series of candid interviews with the 2021 Arts Award recipients as they are publicly announced for the first time. Each of the eleven episodes will also be accompanied by original illustrations by a different Hamilton-based illustrator who will be profiling each recipient.

Local musicians, including award-winning singer-songwriter Terra Lightfoot, will be featured throughout the series. Episodes will also feature spoken word performances by Mohawk/Tuscarora writer Janet Rogers from Six Nations of the Grand River and will contain messages of support from program sponsors, City Councillors, City Manager Janette Smith, and Mayor Fred Eisenberger.

The Arts Awards will also be promoting the Save the Arts Initiative coordinated by its Hamilton Arts Week partner, the Hamilton Arts Council. This initiative encourages support for local arts groups and organizations to help them recover from the affects of the pandemic through donations, memberships or purchases.

Episode Schedule

Episodes 1 & 2
Thursday, June 3 at 7 pm

• Arts Champion Award and first Creator Award announcements and interviews with recipients.

Episodes 3 to 10
Friday, June 4 to Friday, June 11 at 7 pm

• Creator Award announcements and interviews with recipients.
• Spoken word series by Janet Rogers.

Episode 11
Saturday, June 12 at 7 pm

• Shirley Elford Emerging Artist Commission Prize recipient announcement.
• Lifetime Achievement Award announcement and interview.
• Spoken word by Janet Rogers.

“The Arts Awards showcase the vital role that the arts and artists play in bringing us joy, wonder, and connection. Art brings community together in a way words cannot. The work artists do in our city is an inspiration to the entire community and it is an honour to recognize their contributions through this innovative format. Congratulations and thank-you to everyone who has been involved within the arts over the past year.”

- Fred Eisenberger, Mayor of Hamilton

“The unique format of the 2021 City of Hamilton Arts Awards presentations is a creative response to current public health stay-at-home requirements. We are looking forward to the new opportunities that it presents to get to know the award recipients and celebrate our arts community.”

- Carrie Brooks-Joiner, Director of Tourism and Culture

Additional Resources

• Program information, shortlisted nominees and online presentation information: www.hamilton.ca/artsawards
• Social media: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram #HAA2021
• Hamilton Arts Council, Arts Week: www.hamiltonartscouncil.ca/artsweek
• Save the Arts campaign: www.hamiltonartscouncil.ca/save-the-arts