Edmonton honours culture leaders at mayor's arts awards
Dancers, painters, musicians and other artists brought city hall alive on Monday as Edmonton honoured an arts community that "punches well above its weight."
The 30th annual Mayor's Celebration of the Arts kicked off under the lights in the pyramid of City Hall.
"This city punches well above its weight when it comes to the quality of art and the diversity of art that you can find in this city," said Ken Davis, chairperson of the Professional Arts Coalition of Edmonton, the organization that presents the annual awards.
The night was a chance for artists and others in the arts community to showcase their work and be honoured for it.
The event was a tribute to "arts builders that have spent their careers here building up the quality of arts and culture in Edmonton," Davis said.
"It is also about recognizing achievement in this city in terms of our emerging artists."
Ten awards were handed out to a diverse array of individuals and groups.
Nasa Adem, Edmonton's youth poet laureate, received the Emerging Artist award after performing one of her works for the audience of more than 250 people.
Full list of winners
Mayor's Award for Innovative Support by a Business for the Arts
- Steel Craft Door Products Ltd.
Mayor's Award for Sustained Support of the Arts
- Landmark Homes
John Poole Award for Promotion of the Arts
- Jenna Marynowski, After the House Lights
ATB Financial Ambassador of the Arts Award
- Mariam Qureshi, Lotus Gallery
ATCO Gas Award for Outstanding Lifetime Achievement
- Tamara Bliss, dance lecturer, University of Alberta
Qualico Artistic Leadership Award
- Dr. Allison Balcetis, saxophone instructor, University of Alberta
Robert Kroetsch City of Edmonton Book Prize
- Lauralyn Chow
Syncrude Award for Excellence in Arts Management
- Ken Regan, retired CEO, CKUA Radio
TELUS Courage to Innovate Award
- Executive of Toy Guns Dance Theatre
Emerging Artist Award
- Nasra Adem
