Awards and Fellowships
Premier’s Award for Excellence in the Arts
The Premier’s Award for Excellence in the Arts recognizes outstanding achievement and contribution to arts and culture in Ontario during a significant period of time.
Scope
- Ontario
- Professional artists and not-for-profit or commercial arts organizations
The prizes are intended not as an “end of service” reward or as recognition for a single great accomplishment, but rather for a level of achievement that is extraordinary and unique.
Frequency
- Annual
- Deadline for Nominations: December 1, 2010
Nomination Process
Nominations can recognize a candidate engaged in any professional arts practice, including community arts, crafts, dance, music, opera, theatre, visual and media arts, writing or cultural industries such as book and magazine publishing, digital media, film, television and sound recording.
Anyone can nominate. We are delighted to receive nominations from Ontario residents who enjoy and take an interest in Ontario’s arts and cultural industries. Your nomination will be withdrawn if you are:
- a member of your candidate’s immediate family (spouse or equivalent, son or daughter, parent, sibling or member of the immediate household)
- employed by or working for your candidate
- a member of your candidate’s staff or board.
The award is conferred in two categories, one for an individual artist and one for an arts organization.
Individual Artist Award
The award recognizes a professional artist, including the head/director of an arts organization.
Award Amount
- $50,000
- One laureate will receive a cash award of $35,000. The laureate will nominate a promising new or emerging individual talent in the same field.
- The new or emerging individual talent laureate will receive an award of $15,000.
- Five short-listed finalists will each receive $2,000 and a framed certificate.
Arts Organization Award
The award recognizes a not-for-profit or commercial arts organization involved in the arts or cultural industries in Ontario.
Award Amount
- $50,000
- Five short-listed finalists will each receive $2,000 and a framed certificate.
No individual or arts organization may be awarded the prize more than once. No award will be made posthumously. Previous short-listed finalists are eligible.
The Ontario Arts Council (OAC) administers the Premier’s Awards for Excellence in the Arts program on behalf of the Government of Ontario's Ministry of Culture.
For more information, please phone 416-961-1660, extension 6666, toll free 1-800-387-0058, extension 6666, or send an e-mail to info@arts.on.ca.
Cumulative list of laureates 