Northern Ontario represented as Premier's Awards for Excellence in the Arts

NEWS RELEASE

GOVERNMENT
OF ONTARIO

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Finalists announced for Premier's Awards for Excellence in the Arts

Ontario government recognizes exceptional artists and arts organizations

Ontario is proud to celebrate the twelve finalists of this year's Premier's Awards for Excellence in the Arts for their innovation, creativity and significant contributions to communities across the province.

This year's finalists are:

Artist

• Lydia Adams, Caledon East - Music
• Iain Baxter, Windsor - Visual Arts
• Jane Bunnett, Toronto - Music
• Charles Foran, Toronto - Literature
• Micah Lexier, Toronto - Visual Arts
• Shelley Niro, Brantford - Visual and Media Arts

Arts Organization

• Authors at Harbourfront Centre, Toronto - Literature
• Blyth Festival, Blyth  - Theatre
• Definitely Superior Art Gallery, Thunder Bay - Visual Arts
• Prise de parole, Sudbury - Book Publishing
• SKETCH Working Arts, Toronto - Arts Education
• The Toronto Fringe, Toronto - Theatre

The 2013 laureates will be announced at an awards ceremony on June 27 at the Royal Ontario Museum.

Recognizing the province's artists and investing in talent supports the new Ontario government's efforts to build a strong economy and a fair society for the benefit of all.

Quick facts

Past award winners include media artist Shirley Cheechoo, dancer David Earle, playwright and theatre director Ken Gass, media artist Ron Mann, visual artist Ron Noganosh, Tarragon Theatre, Toronto Artscape and Coach House Press.

The Premier’s Awards for Excellence in the Arts are administered by the Ontario Arts Council, an agency of the Government of Ontario, now celebrating its 50th anniversary.

Since 2004, the Ontario Government has provided more than $546 million to the Council to support the province’s artists.

Any resident of the province may nominate an artist or arts organization for the awards.

The culture sector generates almost $20 billion annually for Ontario’s economy and supports more than 252,000 jobs.

Ontario’s 2013 Budget renewed the government’s commitment to the province’s creative sector with the creation of a new Ontario Music Fund and continued funding for educational programs at the Canadian Film Development Centre.

Quotes

"Our government is proud to partner with our talented artists and arts organizations across the province to build a thriving cultural sector that enhances our economy and enriches our quality of life. The Premier’s Awards for Excellence in the Arts celebrate the inspiration and innovation of our artists whose work enlightens us as a people, a province and a society. Congratulations to all our finalists." - Michael Chan, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport

"The Ontario Arts Council is proud of its partnership with the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport, as well as its deep connection to the arts, artists and arts workers. As this year’s Premier’s Awards for Excellence in the Arts finalists clearly demonstrate, artistic talent and passion for the arts are alive and thriving in communities across the province." - Martha Durdin, Chair, Ontario Arts Council

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