Oct. 2, 2024 – The City is excited to announce its 2024 St. Catharines Arts Awards
nominees, recognizing some of the community’s most talented creatives and their
supporters. These outstanding individuals and organizations will be honoured at a
celebration on Nov. 3, 2024, at the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre (FOPAC).
This year, an impressive 41 nominees are recognized across four categories: Arts in
Education, Emerging Artist, Established Artist, and Making a Difference. Additionally, a
special Patron of the Arts Award will be presented to a distinguished supporter of the
arts. The Awards Ceremony will begin at 5 p.m. in FOPAC’s Robertson Theatre.
“We would like to extend a huge congratulations to our 2024 Arts Awards nominees, all
of whom display remarkable passion and commitment to making the arts happen here
in St. Catharines,” Culture Coordinator Ashley Judd-Rifkin said. “We can’t wait to
celebrate the enormous contributions of these nominees.”
Nominees for the Arts in Education Award, presented to an individual, collective or
organization committed to engaging residents through arts education activities include:
Steven Azzopardi, Emma Barker (Boogie Nights!), Michael Bell, Laurie Boese, Jane
Elliott, Christina Hartmann, Brenna McAllister, Niagara Youth Orchestra, Vanessa
Parson-Robbs, Anne Reimer, and St. Catharines Public Library.
The Emerging Artist Award is presented to an emerging St. Catharines artist working in
any discipline. Nominees include: Bradley Barnham, Taylor Bogaert, Cecilia Brink,
Melissa Cammisuli, Joseph Gottli, Ric Langlois, Shelley Locke, Caitlyn MacInnis, Skye
Rogers, Evan Sawatsky, Tamara Lynn Sutton, and Amber Lee Williams.
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: Matthias Bork, Lyndsey Casey, Paul
Gosen, Preston Haskell, Brita Housez, Infinitely More (Allison Lynn and Gerald
Flemming), Chandi Jayawardena, Cole Lewis, Rusty and Maja, Christopher Reilly, and
David Rose.
Nominees for the Making a Difference Award, which recognizes a St. Catharines arts
entrepreneur, arts administrator, arts organization, arts animator, or volunteer in the arts
whose leadership and innovation have significantly contributed to the growth and
development of arts and culture in St. Catharines, include: Natasha Bell, Bart Gazzola,
Christina Hartmann, Deanna Jones, N’ora Kalb, Helen Michlik, Yvonne Niwahereza,
and Brenda Sauder.
The Patron of the Arts Award will honour an individual or business that has made a
transformative contribution to the arts in St. Catharines through innovative partnerships
or philanthropic investments.
The City is presenting the 2024 St. Catharines Arts Awards in partnership with FOPAC.
Tickets are free and can be reserved through the FOPAC box office at
stcatharines.ca/ArtsAwardsTickets starting on Oct. 4 at 10 a.m.
For more information on the St. Catharines Arts Awards, visit
stcatharines.ca/ArtsAwards.