Arts Champions

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.
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.

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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:

  • Advocacy for the arts and arts-in-education at the school, school district, community, regional or provincial levels.

  • Stimulating community support for the arts and/or arts education.

  • Leadership in developing community partnerships to develop and sustain the contribution of arts and culture to our province, and/or arts programs for students.

  • 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 ]