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News / February 15, 2017

2017 Governor General’s Awards Winners Announced

The Canada Council for the Arts today announced the eight winners of this year’s awards, which include a $25,000 cash prize.
Landon Mackenzie, <em>Big Pink Sky (TB)</em>, 2014. Photo: Trevor Mills. Landon Mackenzie, Big Pink Sky (TB), 2014. Photo: Trevor Mills.

The Canada Council for the Arts today announced the winners of the 2017 Governor General’s Awards in Visual and Media Arts.

The awards carry a $25,000 cash prize and recognize outstanding career achievement.

The 2017 winners are:

Michèle Cournoyer, animation filmmaker, Montreal

Mike Hoolboom, filmmaker, Toronto

Shelagh Keeley, visual artist, Toronto

Glenn Lewis, visual artist, Vancouver

Landon Mackenzie, painter, Vancouver

Philip Monk, curator, writer, Toronto (Outstanding Contribution Award)

Shelley Niro, multimedia artist, Brantford, Six Nations of the Grand River

Pamela Ritchie, jewellery artist, Halifax (Saidye Bronfman Award)

“These men and women have made tremendous contributions to the arts and society over their rich careers,” said Simon Brault, director and CEO of the Council, in a press release. “Celebrating their exceptional work in 2017, as the Council turns 60, reinforces the importance of investing in artistic creation today to grow the impact of the arts in the future.”

On February 28, the National Gallery of Canada will host a conversation between the winners and associate curator of contemporary art, Rhiannon Vogl, followed by a reception.

An exhibition of work by this year’s winners will be on view at the Winnipeg Art Gallery, beginning April 8.

A series of short films about this year’s winners and their work have also been commissioned by the Canada Council. The films are viewable online now, and will be screening on Air Canada flights later this spring.