Ontario paid tribute to outstanding artists and arts organizations at the 2010 Premier’s Award for Excellence in the Arts.
Ken Gass, founder and artistic director of the Factory Theatre in Toronto, won the Artist award. He was instrumental in helping nurture and develop some of Canada’s best playwrights and actors.
The Guelph Jazz Festival won the Arts Organization award. The influential music festival has established an international reputation for presenting a vibrant, challenging and culturally diverse program.
The Premier’s award for new or emerging individual talent, selected each year by the winner of the Artist award, went to Natasha Mytnowych, artistic director for Theatre Revolve and Company Theatre Crisis.
The winning artist receives $35,000 and selects a new or emerging artist to receive a prize of $15,000. The winning arts organization will be awarded $50,000. The Premier’s award for Excellence in the Arts is managed by the Ontario Arts Council.
“Art is an investment in our better selves,” said Premier Dalton McGuinty. “Artists not only contribute to the quality of life of all Ontarians, they contribute to a stronger and more prosperous economy.
“Congratulations to all the winners and nominees on their success.”
There are 56,900 artists in Ontario, and the arts and culture sector generates nearly $20-billion for Ontario’s economy.
The Premier’s award for Excellence in the Arts was created in 2006 to reflect the government’s appreciation of the arts in Ontario.
The Guelph Jazz Festival features a main stage program showcasing Canadian and international artists, a free downtown jazz tent on the Saturday of the festival weekend and numerous other concerts at a variety of community venues, including churches, an art gallery and the youth music centre.
The Jazz Festival has grown from a small enterprise with audiences in the hundreds into a large event that draws upwards of 11,000 listeners annually. It occurs every year on the weekend following Labour Day in downtown Guelph.
