Toronto Arts Foundation (TAF) announced the fifteen finalists for the 2011 Toronto Arts Foundation Awards, celebrating those individuals and organizations who have made outstanding contributions to Toronto’s vibrant artistic and cultural life.
This year’s finalists were chosen by a stellar multi-disciplinary jury which included Peter Chin, Simon Foster, Maureen Hynes, Shannon Litzenberger, Charles Reeve, Sonia Sakamoto-Jog, Jini Stolk, Jordan Tannahill and Jennifer Waring. Winners of the 2011 Toronto Arts Foundation Awards will be announced on Thursday, October 20, 2011 at the Mayor’s Arts Awards Lunch. The awards and finalists for this year are:
Arts for Youth Award finalists:
Canadian Contemporary Dance Theatre, Theatre Direct, and Young People’s Theatre
RBC Emerging Artist Award finalists:
Adam Garnet Jones, Reza Jacobs, and Donna-Michelle St. Bernard
Muriel Sherrin Award for International Achievement in Music finalists:
Andrew Burashko, Rita Chiarelli, and Trichy Sankaran
Rita Davies and Margo Bindhardt Cultural Leadership Award finalists:
Sudha Khandwani, Jane Marsland, and Don Oravec
Toronto Arts and Business Award finalists:
The Drake Hotel, Roberto Martella, and TD Bank Group
Here are the 2011 Toronto Arts Foundation Awards Finalists, photographed by Denise Grant Photography:
Canadian Contemporary Dance Theatre – “We want Canadian Contemporary Dance Theatre to be a place of discovery where young dance artists can connect in a professional company setting with experienced choreographers and designers to create unique contemporary art that will transport audiences to their own surprising discoveries.”
Theatre Direct – “Creating theatre for young people is a cyclical process of investigation, expression, discovery and meaningful exchange that constantly renews and humbles me as an artist and a citizen.”
Young People’s Theatre – “Our theatre and education work for young people isn’t a pleasant, fleeting distraction. We want children to be imprinted with an experience that will increase their access to the world and to their own developing identity.”
Adam Garnet Jones – “I always imagined the work of an artist being like magic – summoning the spirits and drinking in starlight. I secretly aspire to that, although most days I arrive at my desk at 9, and try to create something useful work that will mean something to someone.”
Reza Jacobs – “I practice every day I compose and write every day. I have a determined, joyful drive to combine music, image, rhythm, and text. That is my work as an artist.”
Donna-Michelle St. Bernard – “My artistic practice is collaborative, interrogative, fierce and joyful. I endeavour through the practice of storytelling to understand and be understood, to find beauty and humanity even in terrible things.”
Andrew Burashko – “”Music is at the centre of my life. Every day revolves around my work.”
Rita Chiarelli – “I live my life with passion – it’s just who I am. It’s expressed in my songwriting, and when I am on stage and in all aspects of my work and life. My passion for life feeds my art.”
Trichy Sankaran – “Where life is rhythm and rhythm is life, there is laya. Laya is the bedrock of time, the underlying flow that binds music, art, culture and our relationship with the Divine. My role as an artist is to understand, express, and propagate laya.”
Sudha Khandwarni – “My life in art is the only life I have ever known – inner, outer, physical, emotional, mental, spiritual – all merging into one.”
Don Oravec – “It is an honour to know that through my career in the arts I have been able to promote a love of music. Also, writing provides me with great satisfaction and is reward enough.”
Drake Hotel – “The Drake passionately supports diverse performances and creative practices that educate, surprise, engage and entertain. At all times, we aim to inspire, be inspired and have much fun along the way.”
Roberto Martella – “non si vive di solo pane.”
