Nominate an Artist

All Nominees (All Award Categories)

• Current resident of Hamilton (including Ancaster, Dundas, Flamborough, Glanbrook, Stoney Creek, Waterdown) who has lived in Hamilton consecutively for the past two years or longer.
• Must be a Canadian Citizen or Permanent Resident (Landed Immigrant) or have an application pending for Permanent Residency.
• All Award categories are open to all artistic disciplines including but not limited to: Arts Management, Arts Education & Community Arts, Dance & Performing Arts, Fine Craft, Visual Arts, Media Arts, Music and Writing.

Lifetime Achievement Award

• Individual artist who is 18 years of age or older (artistic collectives are not eligible for Lifetime Achievement).
• Has been practicing professionally a minimum of fifteen years.
• Nominee may be self-taught or have art training through formal education, apprenticeship, or with a mentor or elder.
• Full-time students are not eligible (high school or post-secondary).
• Past award winners (in other categories) may be nominated for a Lifetime Achievement Award.

Creator Award

• Nominee must be actively producing work (actively within the last three years).
• Individual artist who is 18 years of age or older or an artistic collective (e.g. band, duo, troupe, collective, etc.).
• Artistic collectives (e.g. bands, duos, troupes, collaboratives, etc.) are eligible for nomination provided that a minimum of 75% of the collective has lived in Hamilton consecutively for the past two years or longer.
• Nominee may be self-taught or have art training through formal education, apprenticeship, or with a mentor or elder.
• Artists at all career levels (i.e. emerging, mid-career, established) may be nominated.
• Full-time students are not eligible (high school or post-secondary).
• Individuals who have received an Established Artist, Lifetime Achievement or Arts Innovation Award through the City of Hamilton Arts Awards in the past five years are not eligible for a Creator Award.  Past Emerging Artist Award recipients may be nominated.

Arts Champion Award

• Nominee must be a current volunteer (activity within the last three years) with an arts-based organization, event or ad hoc group.
• Individual who is 14 years of age or older. 
• Full-time students (high-school or post-secondary) are eligible for this award.
• Volunteer activities may include (but are not limited to):  Boards of Directors, events staff, administrative / operational assistance, etc.

• 18 years of age or older.
• Can be an individual, organization or business residing in any city.
• Cannot be an immediate family member of the nominee.
• Artists cannot self-nominate.
• Cannot be a member of the Arts Advisory Commission, Cobalt Connects staff, or City of Hamilton staff, elected officials and representatives of their offices.

Public nominations will be reviewed and by a large, multi-disciplinary panel of artists and arts professionals who will suggest additional nominees according to their professional knowledge. A short-list of approximately 45 shortlisted artists will be contacted directly to provide supporting documents. Short-listed artists who choose to proceed will be evaluated by a jury comprised of artists and arts professionals.

Nominations in each category are evaluated using the same scoring criteria and must achieve a minimum benchmark score to be considered for an Award. A member of the Arts Advisory Commission will audit adjudication to ensure a fair and transparent process (this is a non-voting position). Adjudication for all awards will take place in Spring 2021 and award recipients announced at a public event (or online presentation) in June 2021 as part of Hamilton Arts Week.