Toronto, February 22, 2000 -- On behalf of the K.M. Hunter Charitable Foundation, Martin Hunter is proud to announce the winners of this year's $40,000 K.M. Hunter Artists Awards:
DANCE: Kim Frank
LITERATURE: Peter Darbyshire
MUSIC CO-WINNERS: Andrea Koziol, Alice Ho
VISUAL ARTS: Shary Boyle
THEATRE CO-WINNERS: Erika Hennebury, Ruth Madoc-Jones
The K.M. HUNTER ARTISTS AWARDS are designed to support and encourage artists who have completed their professional training and have begun to establish themselves and make an impact in their chosen field.
Every year five awards of $8,000 each are presented to artists living in Ontario in each of the fields of dance, literature, music, theatre and visual arts. The awards are administered by the Ontario Arts Council Foundation, a public charitable foundation that encourages and facilitates private giving to the arts. Winners are selected by juries of experienced artists from applicants recommended by Ontario Arts Council juries.
HISTORY OF THE AWARDS
In 1966, the K.M. Hunter Charitable Foundation was established by Kenneth Martin Hunter, a Toronto businessman, as a means of contributing to the welfare of the community in which he had lived and worked for the majority of his life.
Kenneth Hunter's major interests were medical research and social welfare, although he also made donations to cultural and educational institutions. Since the Foundation's inception an amount of approximately $6 million has been given out in grants, donations and awards.
Martin Hunter, Kenneth Martin Hunter's son, has a particular interest in funding for the arts. Four years ago, in connection with the Ontario Arts Council Foundation, he initiated a series of arts awards for younger artists who are just beginning to make their mark.
For more information about the artists or the OAC Foundation:
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