The annual ArtsNl Arts Awards is a full-spectrum celebration of the arts in Newfoundland and Labrador. Artists of all disciplines are recognized through the presentation of six awards. Its latest finalists were announced today.

“This year we are looking forward to a few new features for the [awards gala],” says ArtsNL executive director Reg Winsor. “We’ll share more detail on it in the near future through our social media profiles on Facebook, Twitter, and other platforms.”

We’ll profile some of these people leading up, and after awards gala, but for now, the shortlists:

Memorial University Arts in Education

This award recognizes an artist who has made an outstanding contribution to arts in education in Newfoundland and Labrador over a number of years. The finalists are:

  • Korona Brophy
  • Catherine Wright 

Cox & Palmer Arts Achievement

This award recognizes a practicing artist who has made an outstanding contribution to the cultural life of Newfoundland and Labrador over a number of years. The finalists are:

  • Korona Brophy
  • Chad Stride

CBC Emerging Artist 

This award recognizes new and undisputed talent. It is awarded to an emerging artist, group, or arts organization that has earned significant recognition for a piece of work or a generally out-sized impact on the scene. The finalists are:

  • Eastern Owl
  • Melanie Oates
  • Ian Vatcher

BMO Bank of Montreal Artist of the Year

This award recognizes the art or activity of a person, group or organization that has made an outstanding contribution to the cultural life of Newfoundland and Labrador in 2016.

  • Robert Chafe
  • Louise Moyes
  • Opera on the Avalon

ArtsNL Hall of Honour & Patron of the Arts

2017’s inductee into the ArtsNL Hall of Honour was Douglas Dunsmore. He will be officially inducted into the ArtsNL Hall of Honour at the Arts Awards ceremony. This homour recognizes a person, group, or organization that has made a distinguished lifetime contribution to the cultural life of Newfoundland and Labrador.

ArtsNL also announced this year’s Patron of the Arts, Rex Brown. This award is given to a person, business or organization to recognize an ongoing commitment to the arts in Newfoundland and Labrador through innovative, community, or sustained support of artistic activity.

Artwork and Prizes

Also announced today was that the artwork, which will be presented to the winners in each of the categories, has been created by visual artist Vessela Brakalova. Brakalova’s contemporary mosaic pieces form a collection she calls Genesis, loosely based on the narrative expressed in the biblical book of the same name. The term is also commonly associated with geology and the evolutionary history of life. The series has exhibited at The Rooms in the past as part of The Free World exhibition.

The 32nd ArtsNL Arts Awards will take place 7:30pm Friday, April 28, 2016 in the theatre at The Rooms in St. John’s, NL.