Calgary’s cultural leaders honoured with awards – Calgary Herald

Article content

It was a celebration of the arts in Calgary Friday night as a number of people were honoured with Cultural Leaders Legacy Arts awards.

Article content

Mayor Gondek presented the awards at an event at the Jack Singer Concert Hall with close to 700 people attending.

Article content

This year, 51 artists and organizations were nominated and recipients were selected by a jury of peers. Each winner received a $5,000 cash prize.

The categories and winners are:

2022 ATB Financial Healing Through the Arts Award (recognize artists whose artistic practices encompass health and wellness)

Janey Luc-German has volunteered her services in the past 15 years in promoting arts to various Calgary schools and communities, including running online workshops helping seniors combat loneliness through arts during the pandemic.

2022 CCIS New Canadian Artist Award (recognize that artists from all parts of the world enrich Calgary’s arts sector)

Article content

Claudia Chagoya is a Mexican interdisciplinary artist, educator, and community connector.

2022 Mamdani Arts Leadership Award  (recognizes board members who lend their expertise, talent, and time to arts organizations and festivals)

Stephanie Hutchinson works tirelessly to raise the profile of and give opportunities to Calgary musicians both at home and across Canada through her volunteer work with the YYC Music Awards.

2022 RBC Emerging Artist Award (established to recognize up-and-coming Calgary-based artists)

Sarah Uwadiae is an early career Nigerian artist. Her practice includes set and costume design, filmmaking and story creation through multiple mediums and disciplines. Despite her background in theatre, her curiosity and drive to make art has inspired her to step out of the label of “designer” and embrace her whole self as a multidisciplinary artist.

Article content

2022 Rozsa Foundation Emerging Arts Manager Award (honours an early career arts administrator who is doing noteworthy work)

Daniel Cardinal McCartney was recognized for his outstanding work towards equitable working conditions for artists and arts administrators.

2022 SANDSTONE City Builder Award (recognize artists and/or organizations that make Calgary a better place to live through the arts)

For 13 years, Casa Mexico has been supporting the work of emerging and professional artists in Calgary, and as a result, has been able to foster the growth of multitudes of artistic careers.

2022 Doug and Lois Mitchell Outstanding Calgary Artist Award (honours artists who are lauded for their work in national and international arenas and choose to make Calgary their home)

Article content

Artist Sandra Sawatzky developed a film language of choreographed action to tell stories and embroiders epics with a small needle and miles of thread.

2022 TD Bank Group Indigenous Artist Award (recognizes contributions of Indigenous artists, crafts peoples, and knowledge keepers to Calgary)

Danielle Piper is an interdisciplinary visual artist. She also teaches beading workshops, livestreams on twitch and sells her handmade crafts. As part of this award, she did a three-month term as Indigenous Artist in Residence for the Calgary Public Library.

The awards are a legacy of Calgary being named the 2012 Cultural Capital of Canada. Each award is funded by a contribution from a local philanthropist or organization with equal matching money from Calgary Arts Development. They are a way of recognizing artistic accomplishment and community impact.

In 2021, Calgary Arts Development invested $11.6 million through more than 500 arts grants to individual artists and arts organizations, which resulted in almost 22,000 arts experiences.

Article content