City of St. Catharines Announces 2021 Arts Awards Nominees

Annual event pays homage to the city's arts community.

The City of St. Catharines has announced this year's nominees for the Arts Awards. 

Seventeen finalists have been selected in areas ranging from music to visual arts to film making. 

Kathleen Powell, Acting Supervisor of Cultural Services, says this year's nominees reflect the strong talents of the community. 

"The city’s cultural and artistic community has exploded in recent years - there are so many diverse voices and visions out there. These nominees represent some of the best our community has to offer, world-class talents who call St. Catharines home and step up to build a community we can all be proud of."

The nominees are as follows: 

Nominees for the Arts in Education Award, celebrating individuals and groups committed to engaging residents through arts education, include:

• Steven Azzopardi, visual arts education
• Jean Paul Dupont, music education
• Curtis Tye, performing arts education

Artists in their first 10 years of a creative career will be recognized with the Emerging Artist Award. Nominees include:

• Jason Mikhow, film and photography
• Elise Naccarato, music and conducting
• Kathryn Sinopoli, music

Nominees for the Established Artist Award, presented to a professional St. Catharines artist in any discipline who has received critical recognition for excellence in their art practice in St. Catharines and beyond, include:

• Floyd Elzinga, visual artist: sculpture
• Geoff Farnsworth, visual artist: painting
• Sarah Jerrom, music
• Joe Lavoie, music
• Peter Shea, music

Nominees for the Making a Difference Award - celebrating entrepreneurs, administrators, organizations and volunteers contributing to the growth of arts and culture - include:

• Jean Bridge, volunteerism
• Bart Gazzola, art critic and writer
• Thomas Inglis, music direction
• Diana McAdorey, music administration
• OPIRG Brock, arts advocacy and social justice
• Barbara Worthy, volunteerism

Meanwhile, the Patron of the Arts Award, which is given to someone who has made a difference to the arts community in either entrepreneurial or philanthropic pursuits, will be announced at a future date. 

The 2021 St. Catharines Arts Awards will be presented as a free live-stream event on Sunday, November 21st by presenting partner the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre. 

More details can be found here.