Arts Awards 2008

The Toronto Arts Council Foundation Awards celebrate artists, cultural professionals and arts supporters from every creative discipline. This award program is designed to highlight the significant contributions made by our city’s cultural leadership. Past award recipients include writer/poet Lillian Allen, choreographer Marshall Pynkoski, playwright/performer Sky Gilbert, dancer/ choreographer Danny Grossman, singer/songwriter Molly Johnson, artist/teacher Doris McCarthy, philanthropist Roger D. Moore, arts activist Joy Hughes, theatre producer/director Natasha Mytnowych, music director/performer /teacher Jeanne Lamon, C.M., artistic director of Soulpepper Theatre Company Albert Schultz, choreographer Peter Chin, and CIBC Mellon.

Toronto Arts Council Foundation is the voice for the arts in Toronto. Incorporated in 1995 as a sister organization to Toronto Arts Council, Toronto Arts Council Foundation has a two fold mission: to increase awareness of the value that artists and arts organizations bring to the city of Toronto, and to increase resources for the arts.

Although presented annually, the awards program may vary as many honours are presented on a biennial schedule. With the exception of the The Globe and Mail Toronto Business for the Arts Award presented in partnership with Business for the Arts, each award is accompanied by a cash prize.

Toronto Arts Council Foundation Awards for presentation in 2008:

Arts for Youth Award – a $15,000 cash prize established in 2007 by Martha Burns, Jim Fleck and Jim Pitblado, this award celebrates an individual, collective or organization that has demonstrated an outstanding commitment to engaging Toronto youth in the arts.

The Globe and Mail Toronto Business for the Arts Awards – recognizes a local business that has made a significant contribution to the arts in Toronto. Established in 2006, this award is presented in partnership with Business for the Arts. The recipient will receive an original work of art created by Nobuo Kubota.

RBC Emerging Artist Award– a $5,000 cash prize presented to an emerging Toronto artist working in the new media or performing arts discipline in celebration of current accomplishments and future potential. Established in 2006 by RBC Foundation, this award is intended to support the development or completion of new work.

Roy Thomson Hall Award of Recognition – a $10,000 cash prize presented to an individual, ensemble or organization to recognize creative, performing, administrative, volunteer or philanthropic contributions to Toronto’s musical life. This award was stablished by the Volunteer Committee of Roy Thomson Hall in 1984 to recognize and thank the community that supported the conception, building and establishment of the new concert hall. In 2002, the Corporation of Massey Hall and Roy Thomson Hall (RTH) asked the TACF to manage the award.

William Kilbourn Award for the Celebration of Toronto’s Cultural Life – a $5,000 cash prize presented to an individual performer, teacher, administrator or creator in any arts discipline, including architecture and design, whose work is a celebration of life through the arts in Toronto. Established in 1996, this award is funded through an endowment made possible by private donors who wished to celebrate the life of William Kilbourn (1926 - 1995). Kilbourn was an author, an educator, an historian and a politician, serving as an alderman for the City of Toronto (1970 - 1976) and as a board member of the Toronto Arts Council for seven years, serving as its president from 1981 to 1984.