The Ottawa Arts Council’s Arts Awards aim to celebrate and promote artists’ diversity, talent, and contribution to the city’s cultural landscape. The event takes place annually in May with 200+ attendees. Over $400,000 has been awarded since 1988! Every year, the Council works to adapt the Arts Awards program to better reflect its value for laureates.
Recognizing Excellence in the Arts
Each year, the Ottawa Arts Council places a call out to the greater arts community to secure nominations for the seven awards distributed annually: the Victor Tolgesy Award, which recognizes the accomplishments of residents who have contributed substantially to enriching cultural life in our city; the Peter Honeywell Mid-Career Artist Award, recognizing and encouraging the achievements of Ottawa artists of all disciplines who have evolved beyond the emerging stage in their career to become recognized professional working artists contributing to the community; the Emerging IBPOC Artist Award, which recognizes the achievements of artists of all disciplines from Ottawa’s IBPoC (Indigenous, Black, and Persons of Colour) community who are in the early stages of their career in the arts and are working towards becoming recognized professional artists; the Project X Photography Award designed to recognize the merits of a publicly presented photographic project by an Ottawa-based artist; and, the Community Arts Educator Award, which recognizes excellence in community arts education and the accomplishments of artists who provide unique and creative learning experiences that inspire future generations and community art projects.
Project-based awards include the Corel Endowment for the Arts Award, a future-oriented award that encourages evolution, innovation, creativity, and excellence of artists working on new initiatives in all art disciplines in Ottawa; and the Young Artist Award which is a mentorship-driven award established to support young Ottawa artists 14 – 21 years old.
Nominations are evaluated by a peer assessment group composed of arts leaders in the community representing different artistic disciplines.
The Ottawa Arts Council is engaged in applying an equity lens to our programs. We prioritize applications from IBPOC, first generation POC and other equity seeking groups, and strongly encourage applicants from Indigenous and equity-seeking communities to self-identify.
The Victor Tolgesy Arts Award
The Victor Tolgesy Arts Award was inaugurated in 1987 by the City of Ottawa and the Ottawa Arts Council to recognize the accomplishments of residents who have contributed substantially to enriching cultural life in the city. It is named in honour of the late Ottawa artist Victor Tolgesy. This award is presented as a joint venture of the City of Ottawa and Ottawa Arts Council to recognize an individual who has significantly contributed to the Ottawa arts community. The award recipient receives a bronze cast of Victor Tolgesy’s 1963 sculpture titled “Seed and Flower” provided by the City of Ottawa as well as a cash prize of $5,000.
The Emerging IBPOC Artist Award
The Emerging IBPOC Artist Award recognizes and encourages the achievements of artists from Ottawa’s IBPOC (Indigenous, Black, and Persons of Colour) community of all disciplines, including dance, music, theatre, literature, visual arts, and more, who are in the early stages of their career in the arts and are working towards becoming recognized professional artists, while engaging with the community. The recipient will receive a $5,000 award and two finalists will receive $1,000 awards.
The Corel Endowment Fund for the Arts Award
The Corel Endowment Fund for the Arts Award champions projects that celebrate the integration of technology and the arts. The award supports projects with the potential to significantly advance the artist’s art practice or have an impact on the community.
This award is available to individual artists as well as arts collectives and groups. The prize varies according to the endowment’s dividends, which is typically in the range of $1,750 to $2,250.
The Young Artist Award
Sponsored by Drift Murals and the Artists & Artisans Study Group of Ottawa, the Young Artist Award is a project-based, mentorship-driven youth arts award established for the recognition and encouragement of young Ottawa-based artists, aged 14 – 21 years old, demonstrating exceptional potential and a commitment to excellence in any art form. The award recipient will receive a prize of $550 and a $550 prize will be awarded to their chosen mentor.
The Peter Honeywell Mid-Career Artist Award
The Peter Honeywell Mid-Career Artist Award was established to recognize and encourage the achievements of Ottawa artists of all disciplines, including dance, music, theatre, literature, visual arts, and more, who have evolved beyond the emerging stage in their career to become recognized professional working artists contributing to the community.
This award is sponsored by Mann Lawyers LLP and GGFL. The recipient will receive a $5,000 award; two other finalists will receive $1,000 awards.
Project X, Photography Award
The Project X Award recognizes the merits of a publicly presented photographic project by an artist who demonstrates an ongoing connection to Ottawa. This may include someone with an Ottawa based artistic practice, who resides in the Ottawa region, or is a resident of the host nation: Algonquins of Pikwakanagan First Nation or Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg First Nation.
The award is a partnership between SPAO, the Ottawa Arts Council, and the Ottawa Art Gallery with additional sponsorship support from DAÏMÔN. The Award is adjudicated by three independent experts and a representative from the Ottawa Art Gallery; a non-voting representative from SPAO provides supplementary photographic expertise to the jury.
The award recipient will receive a prize of $1,000, a bursary of $1,000 towards SPAO classes or residency program, the opportunity to exhibit at the Ottawa Art Gallery and receive an associated CARFAC exhibition fee, a $500 credit at DAÏMÔN, as well as a feature in SPAO's Annual Publication. The two finalists will receive a $300 credit at DAÏMÔN and each eligible applicant will receive a complimentary one-year membership to DAÏMÔN.
Community Arts Educator Award
The Community Arts Educator Award was inaugurated in 2021 through a partnership with Ottawa Arts Council and MASC, with the support of Arts Network Ottawa and poet Jamaal Amir Akbari (aka JustJamaal ThePoet). The Award recognizes excellence in community arts education and the accomplishments of Ottawa-based artists who provide unique and creative learning experiences that inspire future generations and community art projects that engage Ottawa residents. This award was developed to shine a spotlight on the hundreds of community arts educators that dedicate their careers to sharing their knowledge, ensuring arts education remains a meaningful and relevant part of a young person’s education as well as engaging all ages within the community through participatory community art projects.
The award recipient will receive a limited-edition print by Geraldine Taylor from her “Ode to the Experimental Farm”, a cash prize of $3,000, and complimentary membership to the Ottawa Arts Council.
PAST AWARD RECIPIENTS
The Victor Tolgesy Arts Award
2024: Bill Staubi
2023: Tam-Ca Vo-Van
2022: Lydia Talajic
2021: Colin Mills
2020: Pier Rodier
2019: Alexandra Badzak
2018: Jon Bartlett
2017: Sylvie Desrosier
2016: David Currie
2015: Janet Irwin
2014: Victoria Henry
2013: No Award Presented*
2012: Elaina Martin
2011: Jerry Grey
2010: Mela Constantinidi
2009: Christine Tremblay
2008: Paulette Gagnon
2007: Tom Henighan
2006: Penny McCann
2005: Jennifer Cayley
2004: Susan Annis
2003: Robert Hyndman
2002: Eleanor Crowder
2001: Jennifer Dickson
1999: Harvey Glatt
1998: Claire Faubert
1998: Diane Holmes
1997: Peter Boneham
1996: Ian Tamblyn
1995: Anthony Bogert
1994: Barbara Clark
1993: Arthur Milner
1989-1992: No Award Presented
1988: Pat Durr
1987: Trudi LeCaine
1987: John Robertson
The Emerging IBPOC Artist Award
2024: Empress Nyiringango
2023: Velvet Wells
2022: Laurena Finéus
2021: Amanda Lowe Warnakulasuriya*
2020: Asuquomo (Morris Ogbowu)
2019: Olivia Johnston
2018: Justin Duhaime
2017: Gillian King
2016: Caroline Yergeau
2015: Lisa L'Heureux
2014: Sarah Hatton
2013: Amy Schissel
2012: Howie Tsui
2011: Andrew Morrow
2010: Patrick Gauthier
* Starting in 2021, the award recognizes emerging artists of all disciplines from Ottawa’s IBPOC (Indigenous, Black, and Persons of Colour) community.
The Corel Endowment Fund for the Arts Award
2024: Spectral Weavers
2023: Speaking Vibrations
2022: Willem Deisinger
2021: Christine Mockett (fibre and technology project)
2020: Cheryl Pagurek (States of Being)
2019: Megan Piercey Monafu (Strata Inc.)
2018: subDevision
2017: Anjali Patil (new contemporary kathak dance)
2016: Anna Frlan (Diefenbunker residency)
2015: Christine Mockett (Walkway) 2015 : Christine Mockett (Walkway)
2015: Jocelyn Todd (Dark Horse Dance Project)
2014: Eric Julien / Von Allan Studio
2014: Elise Letourneau
2013: Roger Wilson (Cinema-bike)
2012: Jonathan Hobin (Cry Baby)
2012: Luminartists
2012: Joyce Westrop (large scale printmaking project)
2012: Renée Yoxon & Mark Ferguson (jazz co-composition project)
2011: Pixie Cram & the Windows Collective
2011: Eric Walker (materials for solo exhibition)
2010: Howie Tsui (Celestials of Saltwater City)
2010: John Graham (MOVE)
2009: nichola feldman-kiss (the camera eye)
2008: Izabel Barsive (Lustrale II)
2008: Michael Sasso (electronic music performance)
2007: Benjamin Gaillard (Le Crabe)
2007: Christopher Rohde (experimental narrative film)
2007: Michelle Wilson (photographic installation)
2006: Chantal Gervais (photographic project)
2006: The Harrismah Duo (concert with new arrangements)
2006: Andrew O'Malley (interactive installation)
2005: Evelyn Stroobach (La petite danse)
2005: Fateema Sayani (Hipster and Poser: A Companion Guide to Ottawa, The Character of a City)
2004: Kahlia Scott (visual arts project)
2004: Anita Grace (Hungry Poet project)
2004: Juliana Pulford (set and costume design)
2003: Adrian Göllner (Modern U project)
2003: Michèle Provost (The Sampler exhibition)
2003: Alison Chung Yan (Lorenzo's Butterfly)
2003: Karen Gutman (new dance work)
2002: Line Dezainde (sculpture installation)
2002: Lynda Turner (community arts project)
2001: Anik Bouvrette (dance choreography)
2001: Artists Five (visual arts installation)
2001: Korbett Matthews (film production)
2000: Saveeta Sharma (dance presentation)
2000: Mathieu Derouin (film production)
1999: Ruby Ewen (sound for visual arts exhibition)
1999: Lori Jean Hodge (recording of music cd)
1998: Karl Ceisluk (public art work)
1998: Penny McCann (distribution of film)
1998: Jan Irwin (Down to Low)
The Young Artist Award
2024: Tyler Nykilchyk
2023: Asha Higginson (Mycelium)
2022: Jude Peter (photography/filmmaking)
2021: Dana Van Loon (animation project)
2020: Kezia Djungu-Sungust (documentary film)
2019: Claire Amirault (fictional film)
2018: Gwyneth Orr (Avis)
2017: Yasmine El Mansouri (dance film)
2017: Jennifer Lee (Odes to My Plague: Vulnerability, Disorder, Recovery)
The Peter Honeywell Mid-Career Artist Award
2024: Angelique Francis
2023: Marisa Gallemit
2022: Don Kwan
2021: Claudia Salguero
2020: Rebecca Noelle
2019: Meghan Lindsay
2018: Pixie Cram
2017: Jesse Stewart
2016: David O'Meara
2015: Yvonne Coutts
2014: Rob McLennan
2013: Jinny Yu
2012: Brian Smith
2011: Frank Shebageget
2010: Michèle Provost
2009: Cindy Stelmackowich
2008: Cynthia O'Brien
2007: Anik Bouvrette
2006: Ryan Stec
Project X, Photography Award
2024: Olivia Johnston
2023: Karina Kraenzle
2022: Angelina Barrucco
2021: Joyce Crago
2020: John Healey*
2019: Gary Franks
2018: Neeko Paluzzi
2017: Peter Coffman
2016: Jamie Kronick
* Since 2020, Project X, Photography Award recognizes publicly presented photography projects. Previous awards supported the production of photo-based projects.
Community Arts Educator Award
2024: Shara Weaver
2023: Jesse Stewart
2022: Michael Tardioli
The Business and the Arts Recognition Award (no longer offered)
2020: Dominion City Brewing Company
2019: Vector Media
2018: Ottawa Business Journal
2017: Star Motors of Ottawa
2016: pressed
2014: Patrick Morris of the Morris Home Team
2013: Patrick Gordon Framing
2012: Downtown Rideau BIA
2011: Domicile Development
2010: Dharma Developments
2009: Knowledge Circle Learning Services
2009: John Jackson C.A
2008: Integrating Solutions Inc.
2008: Shanghai Restaurant
2007: IPO Gallery
2007: Sound of One Hand Recording Studio
2006: Scotiabank
2006: Westboro BIA
2005: Irving and Shirley Greenberg Family (special recognition)
2004: KPMG LLP
2004: Mercury Lounge
2003: Alcatel Canada
2003: Eagle Professional Services
2002: Royal Bank of Canada
2002: The Gordon Creative Group
2001: National Arts Centre’s Fourth Stage
2001: Manulife Financial
2000: County of Carleton Law Association
2000: The Ottawa Folklore Centre
1999: OAG Galerie Annexe
1999: TD Canada Trust
1998: Standard Life
1998: Rasputin's Café
1997: Food for Thought Books
1997: The Canadian Museum of History
1996: Corel Corporation
1996: Bytowne Cinema
1995: Ramada Hotel and Suites
1995: Thyme and Again Creative Catering
1994: Best Western Hotel
1994: Canada Post
1993: Santé Restaurant
1993: Ottawa Roman Catholic School Board