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2010 Arts Champions Announced at Assembly Conference, May 1, in Richmond
Each year, in conjunction with Arts and
Culture Week, the Assembly gives three Arts Champions
Awards to individuals or organizations who have
contributed to the development and promotion of the arts
in their communities.
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The first recipient, Bill Usher, has been
the driving force behind a revitalization of his
community through the development of the arts.
Originally a professional musician based in
Ontario, as well as working in TV and acting,
this person worked with the Ontario and Toronto
arts councils, and the Ontario Ministry of
Culture before moving to BC in 2002.
Using the skills and knowledge he had
accumulated through the various aspects of his
previous careers, he has been able to forge a
collaboration between the arts council,
businesses, local government, the school
district and volunteers to form Kicking Horse
Culture, and economic driver in Golden. |

Assembly President Joan Richoz and Bill Usher
with his Community Arts Champion award. |
The second recipient - and these are in no
particular order - comes from a different kind of
background, but has also brought her community together
through arts projects. Yvonne Elden has lived in the
small town of Chetwynd since she earned her teaching
certificate many years ago, and has been a tireless
advocate for quality education throughout her life. Upon
being asked about her, one person said that she had been
the person behind the arts in the community as long as
the speaker could remember. Each year this award winner
has brought together many organizations to create an
impressive line-up of events for Arts and Culture Week,
including First Nations, health and arts programs,
literacy, coffee houses and much more.
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Assembly President Joan Richoz and Whistler's
Doti Niedermayer with her Community Arts
Champion award. |
The third recipient, Doti Niedermayer, has
worked in arts and culture in BC for over 20
years in the lower mainland and Whistler. Her
willingness to work tirelessly and devote much
of her personal time to attending and promoting
events to ensure their success, her dedication
and commitment to the arts has contributed to
her community being known for arts and culture
as well as a tourist destination for outdoor
sports.
The partnerships she has created and fostered
over the years with all three levels of
government, businesses and other non-profit
organizations, her personal and professional
integrity, her belief in the value of the arts
in the creative economy, are just some of the
reasons why the Whistler Arts Council was
invited to co-produce Whistler Live! the
cultural programming offered during the Olympic
and Paralympic Games. |
The Assembly congratulates all three of the 2010
Community Arts Champions on their accomplishments in
community arts and culture!
ArtStarts in Schools presented an Art Arts Champion
in Education award to Jeremy Long, the former Executive
Director for the BC Arts Council for his work in
promoting the arts in schools. |
Backgrounder:
The Arts Champion awards honour an individual or organization
making significant contributions to their communities through
exceptional support for arts and culture programs, initiatives and
collaborations. Awards are presented annually in two
categories: Community Arts Champion and Arts Champion in
Education.
Criteria for selection include individuals or organizations
actively engaged in:
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Advocacy for the arts and arts-in-education
at the school, school district, community, regional or
provincial levels.
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Stimulating community support for the arts
and/or arts education.
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Leadership in developing community
partnerships to develop and sustain the contribution of arts and
culture to our province, and/or arts programs for students.
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Providing sustained financial or in-kind
support of the arts at the school, district or community level
Individuals can be artists, administrators, volunteers, teachers,
or others actively working to enhance arts and culture.
[ 2009 Arts Champions ]
[ 2008 Arts Champions ]
[ 2005 Arts Champions ]
[ 2006 Arts Champions ] [ 2007 Arts Champions ] |
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