2012 Arts Awards

Richmond Arts Awards Winners
The City of Richmond is delighted to congratulate the six winners of the fourth annual Richmond Arts Awards, as presented by Mayor Malcolm Brodie at a ceremony in Council Chambers on May 8, 2012.

Presenting Sponsor: 


Arts Education
Recognizes an individual or organization whose achievements and contributions to arts education have been significant and far reaching.

Jon Lee-Son
As a Youth Development Worker at West Richmond Community Centre, Jon started started the Tickle Me Pickle improv troupe in 1999 as a way to involve youth in fine arts and create a safe, social space to learn, teach and perform improv theatre. Since then, under his leadership, the troupe has gone on to present workshops in schools and venues across the Lower Mainland delivering the message of improv and its capacity to build self confidence. Jon’s commitment to arts education has led him to create High School Pickle and Tickle Me Cucumbers, a children’s division. And four years ago, Jon started the RichCity Improv Tournament for high school teams which he helps coordinate. He currently works full-time at Station Stretch and is the president of CHIMO Crisis Services.

FINALISTS: BC Children's Art and Literacy Society 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.

Cinevolution Media Arts Society
Founded in 2007, Cinevolution is a non-profit society founded and run by artists, filmmakers, community activists and volunteers who share a passion for media arts, critical discourse and intercultural exchange. Based in Richmond, the society has since played a crucial role in bringing innovative film and new media art to communities in Richmond and beyond. Through the Your Kontinent Richmond International Film and Media Arts Festival (formerly New Asia
Film Festival), Cinevolution presents film and multimedia artwork including documentaries, drama, animation and site-specific installation artworks. In conjunction with the David Lam Centre at SFU, the festival also hosts the annual DocuAsia Forum. Cinevolution also mentors young people to create and screen their own short films.

FINALISTS: Dr. Sze-Oi Lucia Lau and Richmond in 3D

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.

Appia Group of Companies
Thanks to a contribution of $100,000 from the Appia Group of Companies, since 2009, the No. 3 Road Art Columns Project has provided residents and commuters at Canada Line stations with attractive and engaging artworks. These backlit panels also provide a unique opportunity for local and regional artists working in two dimensions (such as painters, graphic designers, photographers and printmakers) to exhibit their work in the public realm. Appia’s sponsorship is part of their public art contribution to the Prado residential development on Lansdowne Road. In addition, they have contributed a further $100,000 towards a new public art work, Made in Chine by Muse Atelier, to be installed this spring.

FINALISTS: Am-Pri Construction and CORE Revelation Productions

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.

Willa Walsh
A retired teacher-librarian from McNair High School, Willa has lived and worked in Richmond for more than 36 years. While at McNair, she founded and ran a Writers Festival for students, serving as co-chair and organizing sessions with celebrated Canadian authors. The format became the model for what would later become the Richmond Art Gallery’s Arts for Life festival. In 2002, Willa joined the RAG board and became actively involved in their 'Life is a Masquerade' fundraiser auction event. In the same year, she joined the Richmond Public Art Advisory Committee, and became its chair in 2003.

FINALISTS: Seemah Aaron and Loraine Wellman

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.

Tiffany Cheng
Tiffany is a visual artist and musician at MacNeill Secondary School. Her drawing and painting talents have earned her top marks in her Art classes and her piano training has led to prizes at the Kiwanis Music Festival and Richmond Music Festival. A dedicated student and volunteer, she is a student leader and core member of student council, and has been a major part of the planning of RichCity Idol, a showcase for singers and performers in Richmond Secondary Schools. After graduating in 2012, Tiffany plans to complete her Royal Conservatory of Music program, teach piano part-time and study Interior Design.

FINALISTS: Jennifer Li and Shirley Liu

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.

Cherelle Jardine
Throughout her career, Cherelle has been a tireless performer and advocate of music and musicians. To date, she has released six CDs, and is currently recording her seventh studio album with The Jardines. Stone Poets, her newest trio, released their first CD in November, 2011. Previously, she co-founded the Pacific Alliance of Independent Recording Artists and was President of Pacific Songwriters’ Association, Director of Women in Music as well as the Richmond-based Salmon City Music. Cherelle is well-known for her popular Musical Expressions series and, in 2011, she received an Ethel Tibbits award for her work in the arts.

FINALISTS: Nes and Tonette Gatus, and Eugene Skovorodnikov

The Richmond Arts Awards was developed in partnership with the Richmond Arts Coalition and is sponsored by the Richmond News and Peller Estate Winery.

2012 Selection Committee

• Glen Anderson, visual artist
• Jeanette Jarville, visual artist and chair of Richmond Arts Coalition 
• Leonard Kay, music teacher, Richmond School District
• Joey Kwan, Promotion & Public Relations Manager, Aberdeen Centre

2011 Arts Awards Winners
2010 Arts Awards Winners
2009 Arts Awards Winners