Toronto, May 14, 2001 — Arts patron Joan Chalmers, C.C., O.Ont., announced the end of the Chalmers Awards and the beginning of the Chalmers Grants at this evening’s annual party in Toronto. In future, the $325,000 given annually will be put towards new Chalmers Grants to be administered by the Ontario Arts Council.
“I have always believed that philanthropy must be both fluid and responsive, and above all, it must be as creative as the artists we support,” said Joan Chalmers. “In keeping with that vision, I have asked the Ontario Arts Council to discontinue the annual Chalmers Awards and to re-direct the capital to support a greater number of artists with smaller, more effective grants.”
“The era of high-priced ego awards,” she concluded, “is over.”
“This is an exciting opportunity for the Ontario Arts Council,” said Julia Foster, Chair of the Ontario Arts Council. “No other granting organization in the province has had greater experience in evaluating artistic potential or in providing seed money for the germination of innovative creative ideas. Joan has shown true insight and leadership by establishing this new granting program.”
Each of the 2001 Chalmers Awards winners received a cheque for $25,000. These awardshonour Canada’s premier artists in dance, theatre, music, visual arts, crafts, documentary film/video, artistic direction and arts administration.
The 2001 winners are:
Painter, Guido Molinari, Montréal, Québec – Jean A. Chalmers National Visual Arts Award.
Wood and mixed media artist, Gordon Peteran, Toronto, Ontario – Jean A. Chalmers National Crafts Award.
Édouard Lock, choreographer, Montréal, Québec – Jean A. Chalmers National Dance Award.
Ben Heppner, tenor, Toronto, Ontario, – Jean A. Chalmers National Music Award.
Claire Hopkinson, General Manager, Tapestry New Opera Works, Toronto, Ontario – M. Joan Chalmers National Award for Arts Administration.
Albert Schultz, Artistic Director of Soulpepper Theatre, Toronto, Ontario – M. Joan Chalmers National Award for Artistic Direction.
Filmmaker Stéphane Drolet, Montréal, Québec for À l’abri du temps/Time and Away – M. Joan Chalmers Documentarian Award for Film and Video.
Floyd S. Chalmers Canadian Play Awards
Belle written by Florence Gibson, directed by Ken Gass, produced by Factory Theatre.
Radio :30, written by Chris Earle, directed by Shari Hollett, produced by the night kitchen.
Building Jerusalem written by Michael Redhill, directed by Ross Manson, produced by Volcano.
Heaven, written by George F. Walker, directed by George F. Walker, produced by The Canadian Stage Company.
Chalmers Canadian Play Awards: Theatre for Young Audiences
Pop Song written by Sean Reycraft, directed by Michael Waller and produced by Theatre Direct Canada
The Star Keeper/Le Porteur, storyboard by Richard Lacroix, André Laliberté and Richard Morin, directed by André Laliberté, puppet design by Richard Morin and produced by Le Théâtre de l’Œil.
The Floyd S. Chalmers Canadian Play Awards and The Chalmers Canadian Play Awards: Theatre for Young Audiences have been presented annually to outstanding Canadian playwrights whose work has been premiered in Metropolitan Toronto within the past calendar year.
The Chalmers Awards have been administered by the Ontario Arts Council since 1973. These awards and a related program of training grants are funded through the Chalmers Family Fund. The Ontario Arts Council managed the awards selection process. Award recipients from across Canada have been chosen through nomination and peer assessment.
OAC Media Contact: Kirsten Gunter, Manager of Communications
Tel: (416) 969-7403. Toll-free outside of Toronto: 1-800-387-0058, ext. 7403.
E-mail: kgunter@arts.on.ca