RELEASE: ArtsNL announces winners of the 36th and 37th annual Arts Awards

Oct 14, 2022

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ArtsNL announces winners of the 36th and 37th annual Arts Awards

October 14, 2022 (St. John’s, NL) – In 2020 and 2021, the Newfoundland and Labrador Arts Awards were postponed due to the global pandemic. ArtsNL is pleased to finally announce the winners.

The 2020 winners are:

Artist of the Year: Nelson White
Artist Achievement: Jerry Evans
Arts in Education: Anahareo Doelle
Emerging Artist: Silver Wolf Band
Patron of the Arts: Cox & Palmer
Hall of Honour: Agnes Walsh

The 2021 winners are:

Artist of the Year: Philippa Jones
Artist Achievement: Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra
Arts in Education: Stephanie Rowe Slaney
Emerging Artist: Ben Diamond
Patron of the Arts: Eastern Edge Gallery
Hall of Honour: Bonnie Leyton

Other awards administered by ArtsNL and awarded for 2021 include:

The winner of the annual Rhonda Payne Award is actor, writer, and director, Natalia Henelly. This award honours the memory of actor, writer, and director, Rhonda Payne and is offered to assist women theatre artists in Newfoundland and Labrador who are struggling to achieve their goals as actors or writers. It comes with a cash prize of $500.

The winner of the inaugural Ross Leslie Award is actor, writer, and director, Ruth Lawrence. This award honours the life and memory of actor and film production manager, Ross Leslie, who first came to Newfoundland and Labrador in 2010. The award will rotate between film, theatre, and visual art, and goes to an artist who demonstrates excellence and passion in their own practice and is inclusive, generous, and supportive of the broader arts community. It comes with a cash prize of $500.

“All the winners have known of their achievement for a long while now and, somehow, it’s remained the best kept secret in Newfoundland and Labrador,” says ArtsNL Executive Director, Melanie Martin. “We’re thrilled to announce the names of these talented and dedicated folks who’ve been waiting patiently, some of them for two years, to finally make this public. I’m sure they’re all off to update those bios right now!”

“My sincere congratulations to all the winners of the 36th and 37th annual Newfoundland and Labrador Arts Awards,” says ArtsNL Council Chair, Don Dunphy. “These awards from their peers are very meaningful to our artists and to their professional careers and, as a Council, we’re happy to play a small role in that.”

Nominations for the awards are submitted by the arts community and members of the public. ArtsNL Council members review all the nominations in depth and vote by secret ballot to select the winners.

Due to the ongoing pandemic, it was logistically impossible to undertake an awards show. However, ArtsNL is celebrating the winners of the 2020 and 2021 Arts Awards, and the arts sector in Newfoundland and Labrador, in a monumental way. Stay tuned in to our social media channels as we’re only days away from revealing what’s coming next!

Media enquiries:
Charlene Jackson
Communications Officer
charlene@artsnl.ca

The Newfoundland and Labrador Arts Council (ArtsNL) is a non-profit Crown agency created in 1980 by The Arts Council Act. Its mission is to foster and promote the creation and enjoyment of the arts for the benefit of all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians. The Council is governed by a volunteer board of 13 appointed by government, reflecting regional representation of the province. This includes 10 professional artists who provide sectoral representation of the arts community; two community representatives (with an interest in the arts); and one representative of the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts and Recreation (non-voting). ArtsNL receives an annual allocation of $5 million from the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador to support a variety of granting programs, program delivery, office administration, and communications. It also seeks support from the public and private sector. It supports the following artistic disciplines: dance, film, multidiscipline, music, theatre, visual art, and writing.

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