2010 Arts Awards
Richmond Arts Awards Winners
The City of Richmond is delighted to congratulate the six winners of the second annual Richmond Arts Awards, as presented by Mayor Malcolm Brodie at a ceremony in Council Chambers on April 29, 2010.
Arts Education
Recognizes an individual or organization whose achievements and contributions to arts education have been significant and far reaching.
Sid Akselrod
As the leader of the Art department at Steveston-London Secondary School, Sid has taught, mentored and inspired the artistic endeavours of students for the past decade. His classroom is open at lunch and after school hours for youth to explore drawing, painting, sculpting, photography and, notably, digital media, thanks to the computer lab he spearheaded and fundraised to establish. Ten years ago, Sid was also one of the original planners of the Richmond Art Gallery’s annual Arts for Life conference, which provides high school students with the opportunity to hear and learn from visual arts professionals. With his enthusiastic support and enouragement, many of Sid’s former students have today embarked on well-established successful careers in the arts.
FINALISTS: Len Kay and Richmond Music School
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.
Morri-Lynn Buchanan
A Richmond resident for 23 years with more than 35 years of teaching experience, Morri-Lynn teaches dance to all regardless of ability, age, body type, financial status or any other factor. Last year, she choreographed Missing Pieces about people with Autism. After winning first place at the 5678 Showtime regional competition, her group was invited to perform the work in Montreal at the Dance World Cup where it received a standing ovation. Since then, the piece has been performed many times in the Lower Mainland for teachers, students and the general public. Morri-Lynn works tirelessly to instill the love of dance and culture into her students, their families and the community.
FINALISTS: Simon Johnston and Ming Yeung
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.
Mark Glavina, Phoenix Art Workshop
Since establishing this Steveston business in 1997, Mark has operated an art retail store and provided art workshops to all ages. Thus Phoenix Art Workshop has become not only a supply centre for artists but a support network system for them. Mark successfully operates his business while sharing his knowledge, leading art groups in local and international destinations, speaking at teacher conferences and sitting on panels for the City’s public art program. He has also volunteered with school art programs, working with youth to create murals and with Grade 2 and 3 students to create video art animation.
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.
Eva Baker
The Richmond Orchestra and Chorus Association (ROCA) was a fledgling group of 10 when Eva came on board, initially as a performer, then as its first official Treasurer graduating to President and leading the organization from there. A visionary and nurturing mentor, she not only performed with the choir but made it possible for bursaries to be offered yearly in her name thanks to her own fund raising efforts and personal donations. Today, the orchestra has 60 members and is recognized as one of the top cultivators of young talent. In addition to her work with ROCA, Eva has volunteered with many other projects in Richmond including the Caring Place.
FINALISTS: Willa Walsh and Ron White.
Youth Arts
Recognizes a performing, literary or visual artist, 24 years of age or younger, who has demonstrated outstanding promise and commitment to the Richmond arts community.
Kenneth Lee
Kenneth began piano lessons with Mrs. Ildiko Skledon-Huber when he was four and at the age of nine debuted as a soloist with the Richmond Orchestra and Chorus. Since then, he’s played in festivals, concerts and competitions and won numerous awards including first place at the CIBC Youth Piano Competition in 2005. In 2006, he was diagnosed with a brain tumour that caused double vision; two months after surgery, he was playing concerts. His health problems have prompted him to raise money for BC Children’s Hospital. Sales of his first CD, From Classics to Jazz generated $1,000 and he continues to raise money through an annual fund raising show.
FINALISTS: Jennifer Li and Natalie Lo
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 Art Gallery
A community gallery formed in 1980, the Richmond Art Gallery has played a major role in the development of community-based art in every conceivable medium. The gallery supports contemporary artists whose work is innovative, intellectually stimulating and sometimes controversial. Recently, the RAG was identified as one of the best small galleries in Canada in a survey of Canadian museum and gallery professionals. In addition to gallery exhibits, the RAG organizes and/or facilitates shows in the Gateway Theatre and Richmond City Hall, spring and summer student art camps, an annual Arts for Life careers conference for secondary students, monthly Family Sunday programs and an annual Art about Finn Slough exhibit.
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.
2010 Selection Committee
- Margaret Dragu, visual and performance artist
- Janice Froese, Richmond Arts Coalition
- Teresa Takeuchi, City of Richmond
- Lisa Wong, Richmond Chamber of Commerce