Members of Airdrie’s local art community will be celebrated and honoured with awards at the annual Airdrie Mayor’s Night of the Arts on April 14 at the Bert Church Live Theatre.
First held in 2015, the awards night is an, “annual celebration that shines a spotlight on the vibrant tapestry of creativity that enriches [the] community.”
"We want to foster an opportunity for people to be creative and express themselves,” said Mayor Peter Brown. “[The Night of the Arts] is a great way to break down barriers…it's personal fulfillment and it builds confidence."
Brown added that the show is a way to build a better culture of art in Airdrie and that the event is also important in showcasing the talents of local artists.
According to the Night of the Arts website, the show was created with a dual purpose of honouring the exceptional contributions of individuals and groups within Airdrie’s art scene, and to foster a deeper connection between the arts and the community at large.
“The arts are the heartbeat of Airdrie, reflecting our community’s spirit, diversity, and resilience,” reads the Night of the Arts website. “ The Mayor’s Night of the Arts is our opportunity to say thank you—to acknowledge the hard work, dedication, and passion that fuel our city’s artistic endeavours.”
The presented awards will be for Patron of the Arts, which celebrates an individual or business in the community that has made outstanding philanthropic contributions to an Airdrie arts organization. Champion of the Arts, which will be presented to an individual in the community who has made remarkable contributions to the Airdrie arts scene through non-financial means.
Other awards include Professional Artist, a recognition for an individual in the arts community who is highly regarded by their peers for their exceptional talent, innovative work, and substantial contributions to the arts. The Emerging Artist award, which celebrates the vibrant talent and exceptional creativity of new voices in our arts community.
The final two awards are for Arts Educator, which honours the dedication, passion, and innovation of educators who have made outstanding contributions to art education within the Airdrie arts community, and the Youth Artist award, which recognizes achievements of young artists 21 years of age and under.
There are three nominees for each award, totalling 18 in all. While only one person can win each award, Brown stated that the nomination itself should be viewed as its own accomplishment.
"I think whether you win or lose it's going to be a great night,” said Brown. “I think that if you're going to be entertained, it's also going to be a great night."
Doors open at the Bert Church Live Theatre at 6:00 pm on April 14. As of Tuesday, and tickets can still be purchased on the Bert Church Theatre website.
