Mar 24, 2015
Ottawa, March 24, 2015 – The Canada Council for the Arts today announced the winners of the 2015 Governor General’s Awards in Visual and Media Arts. 2015 marks the 15th anniversary of these awards, which carry a $25,000 cash prize and recognize outstanding career achievement. Funded and administered by the Canada Council for the Arts, the awards include categories for artistic achievement in visual and media arts, fine craft (Saidye Bronfman) and outstanding contribution.
“This year’s winners are profoundly shaping Canada’s cultural identity,” said Simon Brault, Director and CEO of the Canada Council. “We applaud their innovative and powerful work, which invites us to question the state of our world and our own personal destinies in ways that we never would have imagined.”
“The Governor General’s Awards in Visual and Media Arts were established 15 years ago to recognize Canada’s leading visual artists and arts supporters,” said Governor General David Johnston. “This year’s laureates remind us once again of the remarkable talent, vision and diversity in modern Canadian art. I look forward to meeting and congratulating them in person.”
The Canada Council for the Arts is Canada’s national public arts funder. We champion and invest in artistic excellence so that Canadians may enjoy and participate in a rich cultural life. In 2013-14 we allocated $153.6 million dollars towards artistic creation and innovation through our grants, prizes and payments. We also conduct research, convene activities and work with partners to advance the sector and help embed the arts more deeply in communities across the country. We are responsible for the Canadian Commission for UNESCO which promotes the values and programs of UNESCO to contribute to a more peaceful, equitable and sustainable future for Canadians. The Canada Council Art Bank operates art rental programs and helps further public engagement with contemporary arts.
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Canada Council for the Arts
Heather McAfee: 613-566-4414, ext. 4166 or 613-218-0066 (cell)
Mireille Allaire: 1-800-263-5588 or 613-566-4414, ext. 5226
To arrange interviews with the winners:
Genesis PR
Geneviève Blouin: 514-887-8187
To attend the media preview of the National Gallery exhibition on April 8 at 10 am:
National Gallery of Canada
Josée-Britanie Mallet: 613-990-6835
To attend the Rideau Hall Ceremony on April 8 at 6 pm:
Rideau Hall Press Office
Julie Rocheleau: 613-998-7280
