Arts Awards Recipients

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Susan Evans Shaw

Susan’s passion for history, be it family, local or Canadian has generated newspaper articles, contributions to anthologies, and three published books: one on early Hamilton architecture and two guides to Canadian battlefields in Europe. Her fondness for literature is inborn. Membership in literary committees is by choice. She lives in a Hamilton high-rise with her two cats, Lotte and Mitzi.

ARTS INNOVATION AWARD

Radha S. Menon

Radha is an Artist-in-Residence at McMaster University’s School Of The Arts and recipient of the City of Hamilton’s Theatre Award, Menon is an interdisciplinary artist.  Her plays and short films have been presented at arts festivals in Canada, the United Kingdom & the United States. Menon is an activist, arts educator, founder of Red Betty Theatre and holds an MFA in Creative Writing.

ARTS MANAGEMENT AWARD

Abedar Kamgari

Abedar is a visual artist, independent curator, and arts administrator. She is an active member of COBRA and advocates for opportunities for artists from equity-seeking groups. Abedar is currently the Programming Director at Hamilton Artists Inc. where she leads the organization’s programming vision through its exhibitions, public programs and community events. as her Emerging Artist.

Emerging Artist
Mashal Khan
Mashal is a multi media artist that hopes to subvert and resist oppressive gazes by focusing on preserving and documenting stillness, joy and whimsical moments felt by her and other womxn of colour.

DANCE AND PERFORMING ARTS AWARD

Josh Taylor

Josh is a dancer, choreographer and artist-educator based in Hamilton, where he is the Owner and Artistic Director of Defining Movement Dance. Specializing in Hip-Hop and Street Dance, Josh uses strong narratives and themes in his choreography and performances, exploring Hip-Hop culture, pop culture and socio-political issues.

Emerging Artist
Janessa Pudwell
Janessa is a dance artist, choreographer and instructor who is dedicated to mastering her craft to share with the community and next generation.

FINE CRAFT AWARD

Andrew Kellner

Andrew received a diploma from Sheridan College in 2003, a BFA in 2005 from the Alberta College of Art and Design, and a MFA in 2017 from West Virginia University. In addition to keeping a home studio, Andrew continues to contribute to the ceramics community by teaching local ceramic classes.

Emerging Artist
Angela Busse
Angela is a multimedia artist working in both ceramic and printmaking

MEDIA ARTS AWARD

Cher Obediah

Cher is Seneca / Ojibway from Six Nations. She’s a filmmaker, workshop facilitator, a writer, speaker and certified fitness instructor. Born in Brantford, Ontario Cher started in theatre at age ten. She followed that passion through television and film. She is dedicated to inspiring social change and motivating others to recognize their worth.

Emerging Artist
Andréa Williams
Andréa, spirit name Maiingankwe from the Turtle Clan, is a proud Black Indigenous woman and community educator using her emerging videography and photography skills to capture Indigenous ways of knowing and being through a digital lens, so that this generation can move forward carrying both traditional and new ways with them.

MUSIC AWARD

Abigail Richardson-Schulte

Abigail is an international award-winning composer. She has been Composer-in-Residence for the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra since 2012 and frequently hosts presentations and education workshops across the region. Her most famous work, The Hockey Sweater, has been performed over 150 times by orchestras across Canada and France.

Emerging Artist
Liam Ritz
Liam is a composer who works in the field of chamber and orchestral concert music.

THEATRE AWARD

Kelly Wolf

Kelly is a Theatre Maker, a Set and Costume designer and an Artist Educator. A determined dreamer and explorer, she has created designs for theatres across Canada. Productions with her company Open Heart explore site-specific theatre creation, foregrounding the site in the story telling while investigating current social issues. 

Emerging Artist
Carlyn Rhamey
Carlyn is a storyteller, theatre creator and co-founder of Squirrel Suit Productions

VISUAL ARTS AWARD

Matt McInnes

Matt is an established printmaker based in Dundas, Ontario. His artistic process is informed by over 14 years as an arts educator. He uses the didactic and collaborative nature of these experiences in combination with affective drawings and the versatility of printmaking to document forgotten or overlooked regional histories.

Emerging Artist
Michael Schnittker
Michael is a printmaker/artist with a focus on screen printing.

WRITING AWARD

Anne Bokma

Anne is an award-winning journalist and author of My Year of Living Spiritually: One Woman's Secular Quest for a More Soulful Life, published by Douglas & McIntyre. She is the founder of the 6-Minute Memoir project, which brings together Hamilton storytellers to share tales on a theme.

Emerging Artist
Jaclyn Desforges
Jaclyn writes books for adults and kids and teaches cozy writing workshops in the GTA and online.

SHIRLEY ELFORD EMERGING ARTIST PRIZE IN ARTS EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY ARTS

Presented by the Shirley Elford Fund at the Hamilton Community Foundation

Jasmin Glaw

Jasmin is a self-taught Indigenous Artist and advocate of the Algonquins of Pikwàkanagàn First Nation and German descent. As a visual artist and maker, Jasmin’s work in wearable designs uses beadwork and natural materials. Major themes of her work are traditional knowledge, as well as identity and belonging.