Awards & Tributes

Shirley Elford Emerging Artist Commission Prize

Jen Anisef
Call 905-546-2424 ext. 7612
Email: [email protected]

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2026 Arts Awards Illustrative Design

2026 Arts Awards illustrative design was created by Hamilton artist Veronica Dyer.

Artist Statement Dip into the creative well of the mind and access all your senses to both create and experience.

Artist Bio Veronica Dyer brings to life portraits, poems, and the magical surrealism of her imagination.

The City of Hamilton Arts Awards program is pleased to partner with the Hamilton Community Foundation to present the Shirley Elford Emerging Artist Commission Prize. In 2026, two (2) emerging artists (practicing in any discipline) will each be given a $2,000 commission fee to create an artwork that explores contemporary themes related to Hamilton’s evolving identity. The commissions will be presented at the City of Hamilton 2027 Arts Awards Event.

The Shirley Elford Emerging Artist Commission Prize recognizes artistic excellence and is intended to help support emerging artists in furthering their work and to provide opportunities for artists to promote and showcase their work. This Prize is awarded in memory of the late Shirley Elford, a Hamilton artist celebrated for her excellence in glass work and her impact through giving back to the local arts community and community at large.

Prize recipients will be selected by a Selection Panel composed of local arts professionals and emerging artists representing a variety of disciplines and community groups.

Recipients will receive:

$2,000 in artist fees
Presentation of their work at the 2027 Arts Awards Ceremony Event or Online Presentation
Civic and media recognition

Now Accepting Applications

Applications are due on or before Friday, April 10, 2026. Please review the application package before submitting your application.

Submissions can be completed online, by mail or by dropping off the completed application in person.

Incomplete applications and / or applications received after the deadline will not be accepted.
Emailed, faxed, and post-dated submissions will not be accepted.

Complete online application

To submit by mail or in-person, download, complete and print the application form in section 7 of the application package and mail or drop it off to:
City of Hamilton Arts Awards
Visitor Experience Centre
28 James Street North, Hamilton, Ontario L8R 2K1
Tuesday to Saturday from 10 am to 4 pm (closed, Sundays, Mondays and all statutory holidays)

Shirley Elford Emerging Artist

Commission Prize Details

The intention of this opportunity is to showcase contemporary, emerging art practices that are reflective of the broader Hamilton arts community and the city’s evolving identity. The selected artists will be announced at the 2026 City of Hamilton Arts Awards and the commissioned artwork will be showcased at the 2027 City of Hamilton Arts Awards Event. This event typically attracts hundreds of artists and community members.

There will be a variety of options to present artwork ranging from on-stage productions (e.g. performances of music, theatre, dance, spoken word, etc.) to installations and performances during the welcome reception (e.g. sculpture, performance art, exhibition / displays, etc.) to screen-based presentations (e.g. short film, new media, etc.). This opportunity is open to artists practicing in all mediums, however, the commissioned work must be in a format that can be presented at a live event.

Additional Commission Details

Eligibility & Criteria

Commission Prize Recipient Selection

The artwork must be presented at the City of Hamilton 2027 Arts Awards Event, which will take place as part of Hamilton Arts Week Festival (date TBD).
Due to time limitations at the event, if the artwork is a full-length play, album, film or other longer work, the commissioned artist will be asked to select an excerpt for presentation.
The commission fee is $2,000 CAD. This fee includes the recipient’s artist fee and all costs related to the creation / production of the artwork.
The Arts Awards program will provide support and resources to assist with the public presentation of the work (e.g. equipment rental, audio / visual equipment, artist fees for performers other than the commission recipient, staffing to assist with installation, etc.). A budget of approximately $500 per commission has been allocated for costs related to the presentation of the artwork.
The commissioned artists will retain all moral rights and copyright to the artwork. As part of the terms of the commission, the City will license the artworks for the promotion of and display at the Arts Awards event; the artist will take possession of the work following the event.
The commissioned artists will be expected to prepare an initial project proposal in early 2027 for feedback and provide a more detailed proposal once additional event details and location are confirmed. The commission fee will be paid subject to the approval of the project proposal by the Director of Tourism and Culture or their designate.

Eligible Applicants

Individual artists who are 18 years of age or older or an artistic collective (e.g. band, duo, troupe, collaborative, etc.) whose members are 18 years of age or older. Note, performers under the age of 18 years are permitted provided the project leaders / lead applicants are 18 years or older.
Artists or majority of collective members (minimum 75%) have been practicing professionally for less than five (5) years.
Current resident of Hamilton (including Ancaster, Dundas, Flamborough, Glanbrook, Stoney Creek, Waterdown), Six Nations of the Grand River or Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation consecutively for the past two (2) years or longer at the time of submission. Artistic collectives are eligible for nomination provided that a minimum of 75% of the collective has lived in Hamilton, Six Nations of the Grand River or Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation consecutively for the past two (2) years or longer.
Must be a Canadian Citizen or Permanent Resident (Landed Immigrant) or have an application pending for Permanent Residency.
May be self-taught or have art training through formal education, apprenticeship, or with a mentor or elder.

Ineligible Applicants

Full-time students are not eligible to apply (high school or post-secondary students in an art program).
Previous Shirley Elford Emerging Artist Prize winners are not eligible to apply.
Previous City of Hamilton Arts Awards recipients are not eligible to apply, with the exception of Emerging Artist award recipients.

A Selection Panel composed of local arts professionals and emerging artists representing a variety of disciplines and community groups will evaluate the applications. The panelists will select the strongest application based on an established scoring criteria. Adjudication will take place in Spring 2026 and Prize recipients announced at the City of Hamilton 2026 Arts Awards Event.

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Date modified

March 11, 2026