Jim Breukelman, Hua Jin and Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson / photo Tim Matheson
Twenty-five Vancouver-area creators were recognized at the Mayor’s Arts Awards gala at the Roundhouse Community Centre this fall.
The awards recognize individuals who have made significant contributions to creative life in the city, with each honouree in the studio and performing arts disciplines invited to select an emerging artist in their field who demonstrates the promise of the next generation.
In the public art category, the late Jerry Pethick was recognized, with Samuel Roy-Bois selected as a notable emerging practitioner in the genre.
In the visual arts category, photographer Jim Breukelman took home the award, selecting photo-based artist Hua Jin as a younger creator to watch.
Collector, philanthropist and businessperson Michael Audain won the philanthropy award, which recognized his work as chair of the Vancouver Art Gallery Foundation and vice-chair of the National Gallery of Canada Foundation, among other achievements.
Filmmaker and author Ali Kazimi was also recognized at the prize gala as a finalist for the City of Vancouver Book Award. Kazimi’s Undesirables: White Canada & the Kotagama Maru is an illustrated book that describes the months-long Komagata Maru standoff, when more than 350 South Asian people were turned away from Vancouver’s shores in 1914.
The artist winners of these awards are chosen through a peer jurying system whose members consist of previous Mayor’s Arts Award recipients. Honouree artists and emerging artists each receive a cash award from the City of Vancouver of $2,500.
Those recognized in the Support for the Arts categories, including philanthropy, volunteerism, business support, and arts board member of the year, receive a certificate of recognition, but no cash award.
The awards gala took place on September 20.
