The Toronto Arts Foundation has announced the finalists for the 2020 Awards. Seven awards celebrating Toronto’s exceptional artists, cultural leaders and arts organizations will be presented at the annual Mayor’s Arts Lunch on September 24, 2020.
The finalists are:
ARTS FOR YOUTH AWARD
JAYU – a charity committed to sharing human rights stories through the arts
Nia Centre for the Arts – a charitable organization that supports, showcases and promotes an appreciation of arts from across the Afro-Diaspora
The Truth & Dare Project – an organization that provides free visual art workshops, self-care retreats, pop-ups, and an annual exhibit for young Muslim women in the GTA
CELEBRATION OF CULTURAL LIFE AWARDS
Karen & Allen Kaeja – choreographers, performers, idea originators and Co-Artistic Directors of Kaeja d’Dance
Sandra Laronde – arts innovator, leader and Executive and Artistic Director of Red Sky Performance
Ryan Rice – independent curator and an Associate Dean at OCAD University
COMMUNITY ARTS AWARD
Jamii – local arts group serving the Esplanade
MUSE ARTS– community arts organization that increases support, access and visibility to immigrant, refugee and newcomer artists
Unit 2 – arts and community space run by a collective of artist-activists
EMERGING ARTIST AWARD
Britta B. – poet, spoken word performer, emcee and artist educator
Leila Fatemi – emerging artist, curator and community arts worker
jes sachse – artist, writer and choreographer
EMERGING JAZZ ARTIST AWARD
Lauren Falls – bassist and composer
Matt Lagan – saxophonist, composer and bandleader
Jesse Ryan – saxophonist and composer
ROY THOMSON HALL AWARD OF RECOGNITION
Murray Foster – Juno-nominated musician, Professor and founder of Toronto Songwriting School, The Urban Orchestra, and Choir Nation
Nagata Shachu – Japanese taiko drumming and music group
Phem Phat Entertainment Group – produces the Honey Jam programme for young female artists