Arts Awards | City of Hamilton

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Hamilton Arts Awards

Shirley Elford Emerging Artist Commission Prize Nominations Open

Prize recognizes artistic excellence and is intended to help support emerging artists in promoting and showcasing their work.

Learn how to submit a nomination

Each year, citizens nominate artists for consideration by independent juries of arts professionals who choose notable artists and arts community leaders to honour for their excellence and contributions to Hamilton. In 2023 Lifetime Achievement Award and Creator Award recipients will be presented with a cash award and a signature medallion. Arts Champions will receive a special gift of recognition. Learn more about previous Arts Awards recipients

2023 Nominations

Arts Awards Nominations are Closed

Nomination for the 2023 City of Hamilton Arts Awards are now closed. Thank you to all those who nominated Hamilton's deserving artists and arts professionals.

Nominations will be reviewed by a panel of artists and arts sector experts, and award winners will be selected by a jury of leading arts professionals. A member of the Arts Advisory Commission will audit the jury sessions to ensure a fair and transparent process (this is a non-voting position). Adjudication for all awards will take place in early Spring.

Shortlisted Nominees will be contacted in the coming weeks, announced in the spring and celebrated at a public event in June.

Each year, citizens nominate artists for consideration by independent juries of arts professionals who choose notable artists and arts community leaders to honour for their excellence and contributions to Hamilton.

Information about the 2024 program, including the nomination package, will be available in Fall 2023.

The Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes living artists and arts professionals who have contributed substantially to the artistic vitality of the city over the course of a career, and have inspired others through their leadership, creativity and artistic excellence. These individuals’ experience and impact may be local, national or international in scope.

The Creator Awards recognize living artists, arts professionals and artistic collectives working in any artistic discipline and at any career level. A minimum of eight Creator Awards will be given each year to recognize artistic excellence and/or innovation that contributes to artistic growth in the city, progresses the artform and expresses the cultural vitality and diversity of Hamilton’s art scene.

Note: Emerging artists and bands / art collectives are eligible for nomination for this award.

The Arts Champion Award recognizes living individuals who are outstanding supporters of the arts in Hamilton as volunteers, advocates, or board members.

This is a non-monetary award and recipients will be given a special gift of recognition. This award is open to adults and youth over 14 years old.

The purpose of the program is to:

celebrate and build awareness of the incredible contribution that artists make to Hamilton
foster growth in the arts sector
develop the talent that drives this vital part of our city

City of Hamilton Arts Awards

The Arts Awards is one of the oldest programs of its kind in Canada and has been at the forefront of recognizing creative talent since 1976.

Get involved as

Arts Awards Sponsors

The 2023 Arts Awards are an opportunity to say thank you to the artists and arts community leaders that are essential to our quality of life and sense of identity in Hamilton. If your business would like to get involved as a program sponsor, please contact staff at [email protected] for more information.

Stay informed about nomination and celebration opportunities

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The City of Hamilton collects information under Section 227 of the Municipal Act, 2001. Any personal information collected for City of Hamilton Arts Awards newsletter will be used to email you the newsletter. By providing your email address, you are consenting to receiving emails from the City of Hamilton and/or their agents/contractors for information provision purposes. Information collected for this initiative may be stored on servers located in Canada and the United States and may be subject to Canadian and/or American laws.

Questions about the collection of this personal information can be directed to City of Hamilton Arts Awards, email [email protected] or call 905-546-2424 ext. 7612.

Date modified

January 27, 2023