2009 Arts Awards
The City of Richmond is delighted to congratulate the six winners of the inaugural Richmond Arts Awards, as presented by Mayor Malcolm Brodie at a ceremony in Council Chambers on April 17, 2009.
Arts Education
Recognizes an individual or organization whose achievements and contributions to arts education have been significant and far reaching.
Adrienne Moore
In her 35 years as a teacher, 26 of them in Richmond elementary schools, Adrienne inspired countless students, integrated arts programs with Special Needs students and developed a curriculum to integrate art education in elementary school programs. In 2002, she was a key organizer of Artists Among Us, an important community outreach event for the Richmond Art Gallery. An accomplished painter and illustrator, and member of the Canadian Federation of Artists as well as the Richmond Artists’ Guild, Adrienne shares her home studio with artists to practice life drawing as a non-profit group. She also sits on the City of Richmond’s Public Art advisory board, and teaches adult painting classes and workshops.
FINALISTS: Len Kay and Richmond Academy of Dance.
Artistic Innovation
Recognizes an individual artist or organization that is producing visionary creative work, exhibiting innovation within in their arts discipline and/or bringing a new cultural experience to the City of Richmond.
Margaret Dragu
A resident of Finn Slough, Margaret is celebrating her third decade as a performance artist who has presented work in galleries, museums, theatres, nightclubs, libraries, universities, parks and parade routes throughout Canada, the USA and western Europe. She is also a film and video artist, writer, choreographer, actor, radio broadcaster, fitness instructor and extremely famous cleaning lady. Last fall, the Richmond Art Gallery hosted her exhibition “Marginalia: Getting Out of the House” with artist Pam Hall, a Canadian coast-to-coast collaboration that explored connection, community, feminism and domesticity.
FINALISTS: Simon Johnston and Trevor Lai.
Business and the Arts
Recognizes a business that has made a significant contribution to the arts in Richmond by supporting a Richmond-based artist or arts organization through sponsorship, philanthropic and/or volunteer service.
Shelley Morris Business Services
In 1996, during the Richmond Orchestra and Chorus Association’s (ROCA) 10th anniversary year, a chance conversation between the arts group’s Vice-President and Shelley Morris led to an extraordinary offer: a furnished office, free of charge, with no strings attached. Taking them from the kitchen table to a professional working office environment, Shelley Morris gave ROCA both the amenities and stability that enabled them to afford a part-time General Manager and, in turn, grow into a recognizable leader in the arts community.
FINALISTS: Am-Pri Construction Ltd and Coast Capital Savings.
Volunteerism
Recognizes an individual that has made a significant contribution to the arts in Richmond by supporting a Richmond-based artist or arts organization through volunteer service.
Janice Froese
Since moving to Richmond in 1988, Janice has been part of the Richmond Orchestra and Chorus — as a singer, board member and volunteer Marketing Director until becoming the General Manager in 2003. She has also volunteered her time and skills to several other organizations, including the BC Choral Federation, Richmond Music School, Richmond Youth Concert Band and Richmond Spirit of BC Arts Committee. In 2005, she sat as the founding chair of the Richmond Arts Coalition, helping to form the society’s mandate and mission, as well as managing its website. A passionate advocate for the arts, she received the Ethel Tibbits Award for the Arts in 2006.
FINALISTS: Seemah Aaron and Ron White.
Youth Arts
Recognizes a performing, literary or visual artist under the age of 25 who has demonstrated outstanding promise and commitment to the Richmond arts community.
Kenny Wong
Kenny began violin studies with Lorraine Grescoe at the age of six and has won numerous awards and scholarships. He has played with many orchestras including the Banff Centre Orchestra, Vancouver Metropolitan Orchestra and Vancouver Youth Symphony Orchestra, where he has performed as a soloist and was awarded a scholarship. A graduate of Matthew McNair Secondary, where he also played french horn in the senior band, upright bass and bass guitar in the jazz band and was a member of the choir, he is currently studying violin performance at McGill University under Mark Fewer, concertmaster of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra.
FINALISTS: Kenneth Lee and Shanna Lynn.
Cultural Leadership
Recognizes an arts professional or organization as a leader in their arts discipline, their organization stewardship and/or their contribution to Richmond’s cultural development.
Richmond Orchestra and Chorus Association
For 23 years, ROCA has kept choral and orchestral music in the forefront of Richmond’s arts community. This season, the group of about 100 musicians — ranging from high school students to seniors — will perform a varied five-concert series as well as make regular free community appearances throughout the year. ROCA’s members come from all walks of life and welcome the opportunity to share their love of many kinds of music with a wider audience. Previous special concerts have included the opening of the International Terminal of YVR, the Tall Ships Festival and a performance at New York’s famed Carnegie Hall.
FINALISTS: Gateway Theatre and Cherelle Jardine.
The Richmond Arts Awards was developed in partnership with the Richmond Arts Coalition and is sponsored by the Richmond News.
