Public Call for Nominations for the 2011 Toronto Arts Foundation Awards

Award winners will also receive an original work of art commissioned by TAF by local artist Katie Bethune-Leamen. The awards will be presented at the Mayor’s Arts Awards Lunch held at the Arcadian Court on October 20th. Last year’s winners were: Manifesto Community Projects (Arts for Youth Award), filmmaker Jamie Travis (RBC Emerging Artist Award), Lula Lounge’s director José Ortega (Roy Thomson Hall Award of Recognition), arts administrator Mallory Gilbert (William Kilbourn Award for the Celebration of Toronto’s Cultural Life) and BMO Financial Group (Toronto Arts & Business Award).

2011 Award nominations are now open. A description of each award is listed below. All are invited to send in nominations by filling out and sending in the attached TAF Awards Nomination Form:

Award Descriptions

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.

Toronto Arts and Business Award – celebrates a local business which has made an important contribution to the arts in Toronto through innovative, transformative and entrepreneurial partnerships. Established in 2006, this award is presented in partnership with The Globe and Mail, Business for the Arts and the Toronto Arts Foundation. In addition to a work of art, the recipient of this award will be recognized for their achievement in the Report on Business section of The Globe and Mail.

RBC Emerging Artist Award – a $7,500 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. In addition, finalists will receive $1,000 each. Established in 2006 by RBC Foundation, this award is intended to support the development or completion of new work.

Muriel Sherrin Award for International Achievement in Music - A $10,000 cash prize presented to an artist or creator who has made a contribution to the cultural life of Toronto through outstanding achievement in music. The recipient will also have participated in international initiatives, including touring, studying abroad and participating in artist exchanges.

Rita Davies and Margo Bindhardt Cultural Leadership Award - A $10,000 cash prize co-sponsored by the family of Margo Bindhardt and Toronto Arts Foundation. This award is presented biennially to an individual who has demonstrated creative cultural leadership in the development of arts and culture in Toronto. Administrators, volunteers, artists and creators are eligible for consideration.
Basic Eligibility Requirements

Individuals:

• must be Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada, who have demonstrated an ongoing association with Toronto and who have contributed significantly to the arts and culture of Toronto

• must be living at time of selection

• may not nominate him/herself for the award and may only receive the award once (this does not preclude a recipient from being considered for a different TAF award in the future)

• are not eligible to receive TAF awards while serving as board or committee members of the TAF or Toronto Arts Council.

Organizations and Collectives:

• must be headquartered in Toronto and have a significant portion of its activity taking place in the city and have contributed significantly to the arts and culture of Toronto.

• are only eligible to receive an award once (this does not preclude a recipient from being considered for a different TAF award in the future)

Toronto Arts and Business Award:

• Open to businesses of any size operating in Toronto

• Businesses or business foundation supported by corporate funds may be nominated.

• May only receive this award once

• Must be nominated by a representative of a Toronto based arts organization

No person or organization may be selected for more than one TAF award within any given year.