St. Catharines Arts Awards

The St. Catharines Arts Awards recognize and celebrate excellence in all areas of artistic creation and contribution. First presented in 2005 as part of the City of St. Catharines' Trillium Awards, the list of arts award recipients demonstrates the talent and commitment of the arts in St. Catharines.

The Arts Awards seek to increase the visibility of St. Catharines' artists and cultural industries, honour cultural leaders and their achievements, and cultivate financial and volunteer support for the arts sector.

2015 Arts Awards - Who will you nominate?

Nominations are now open for the 2015 Arts Awards! Nomination forms are available for download in the individual categories below. Guidelines for submitting examples of artist's work can be found at the bottom of this page.

New for 2015 - submit a nomination online! 

Nomination Deadline: Friday, Feb. 13, 2015 at Midnight

The recipients of the City of St. Catharines Arts Awards will be announced on Saturday May 30, 2015 at Sean O'Sullivan Theatre, Centre for the Arts, Brock University. Each award winner will be presented with a civic certificate of appreciation and a gift of $400. All nominees will be provided with advance tickets to the event.

Arts in Education Award

Sponsored by the Department of Dramatic Arts, Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts, Brock University

The Arts in Education Award celebrates an individual, collective or organization that has demonstrated an outstanding commitment to engaging St. Catharines residents through arts education activities. 

Emerging Artist Award

Sponsored by Centre for the Arts, Brock University

The Emerging Artist Award is presented to an emerging St. Catharines artist working in any discipline in celebration of current accomplishments and future potential. Emerging Artists are establishing careers in the arts and are working towards becoming recognized professional artists. The Jury may consider nominees of any age who have recently embarked on an artistic career.  

Established Artist Award

Sponsored by the New Performing Arts Centre in Downtown St. Catharines

The Established Artist Award is presented to a professional St. Catharines artist in any discipline who has received critical recognition for excellence in their art practice in St. Catharines and beyond. The Jury will consider nominees who have been actively practicing their art form for at least 10 years and whose work has made an impact on the St. Catharines' community.

Making a Difference Award

Sponsored by the Department of Visual Arts, Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts, Brock University

The Making a Difference Award celebrates the contribution of a St. Catharines artist, arts administrator, arts entrepreneur or arts organization to the growth and development of the arts in St. Catharines.  

Patron of the Arts Award

Sponsored by The St. Catharines Downtown Association

The Patron of the Arts Award celebrates an individual or business that has made an important contribution to the arts in St. Catharines through innovative, transformative, and entrepreneurial partnerships and/or philanthropic contributions. 

Volunteer in the Arts Award

Sponsored by Scotiabank St. Catharines

The Volunteer in the Arts Award recognizes the work of a St. Catharines resident who has given their time and energy to one or more arts organizations and in doing so has contributed substantially to enriching the cultural life of the city.

Guidelines for Examples of Artist's Work

• Visual, Fine Craft, Multimedia: Include six (6) to twelve (12) images on CD, DVD or via web-link. All images must be in JPEG format. Please include image list containing the title, dimensions, and date of the artwork.
• Music - performances, technical, or production (all genres): Include up to three (3) songs (MP3 format); if an album is submitted, please note three songs you would like the Jury to listen to and include appropriate production credits, such as the publisher and performance dates.
• Theatre, Performance, Dance: Include five (5) to fifteen (15) minutes of a recent work on DVD/MP4 or via web-link. Please cue media to the starting time, and include appropriate production credits such as the director, writer, and performance dates.
• Writing: Include three (3) samples of current work (Word/PDF), up to 10 pages in total. Please include appropriate production credits, such as the date, publisher, and editor. Please note any passages you would like the Jury to read.