Ontario Culture Days announced the community recipients of the Spotlight Award, recognized for creating the top programs of the festival, on Wednesday, November 20, 2024.
Paris artists Carolina Saenz and Lisa Franklin won the Best Collaborative Program for combining creative visions with Paris Birds for Diversity.
The Ontario Culture Days festival featured 1,853 free community events across every region of the province, making it Ontario’s largest and most diverse celebration of arts, culture, and heritage this year in both scale and geographic reach. The fall festival, which lasted three weeks, from September 20 through October 13, featured events across various municipalities, including 15 official provincial Festival Hubs.
“With its wide selection of activities, exhibitions and innovative programming, the 2024 Ontario Culture Days festival was a tremendous success,” said Stan Cho, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Gaming. “Every year, this engaging fall festival enables audiences of all ages to experience the best Ontario has to offer, while boosting local businesses across the province. Congratulations to the Spotlight Award winners for their exceptional contributions to the celebration of arts and culture, enriching communities with their dedication to and passion for artistic expression.”
The Spotlight Awards continue to honour the exemplary efforts of individuals and organizations across Ontario who have hosted arts and culture events and activities for their communities, with categories including Best In-Person Program, Best Collaborative Program, and People’s Choice.
In its commitment to inclusivity, Ontario Culture Days, once again, awarded the Warren Garrett Inclusive Programming Award, established in 2023. This award recognizes organizers whose leadership has shaped festival programming that breaks down barriers and fosters a more equitable arts and culture sector in Ontario. Named in honour of Warren Garrett, a founding board member of Ontario Culture Days and former Executive Director of Ontario Presents, it celebrates his commitment as an arts leader and advocate for community cultural development. The recipients below exemplify innovative achievements in independent event creation and storytelling.
The Ontario Culture Days Spotlight jurors evaluated each event to identify the organizers who delivered the most impactful programming. The winners are:
BEST COLLABORATIVE PROGRAM
For combining creative visions:
Organized by Carolina Saenz from La Trenza Tacos, Lisa Franklin from Forest and Folk, and Mountain WoodWork Canada.
(Paris, ON)
Paris Birds for Diversity invited participants to paint birds representing their identity and origins using materials like cardboard, sawdust, and corn husks. The birds were displayed across downtown Paris, with a main exhibit at The Paris Wincey Mills Co, to celebrate diversity in this growing community.
BEST IN-PERSON PROGRAM
For creative participation in an enriching, safe and welcoming experience:
Stories of Peace Award Ceremony
Organized by Canadian Peace Museum
(Bancroft, ON)
The Stories of Peace Award Ceremony at the Bancroft Village Playhouse included talks, peace crafts, a silent auction, live music, a screening of the finalist Stories of Peace videos, poetry by Maya Al-Jaber, art by Dave Maris and photography by Nicolò Filippo Rosso documenting forced migration in the Americas.
WARREN GARRETT INCLUSIVE PROGRAMMING AWARD
For putting equity and accessibility at the forefront:
PERFORMING THE APOCALYPSE: A Performance Art Workshop with Megan Arnold
Organized by Jude Akrey, facilitated by Megan Arnold
(Guelph, ON)
This full-day workshop on the theme “apocalypse,” encouraged participants to transform their vulnerable experiences as queer individuals into performance art. The workshop included discussions, improvisation, and collaborative exercises, culminating in an ensemble performance.
PEOPLE’S CHOICE
Voted by the people of Ontario, the People’s Choice Spotlight is given to:
Organized by Ebru Winegard, alongside Creative Barrie at the City of Barrie
(Barrie, ON)
Nature’s Threads was an inclusive weaving workshop inspired by the tradition of Turkish tapestries. Led by Turkish-Canadian artist Ebru Winegard, participants used natural materials to create woven artworks reflecting environmental stewardship, personal empowerment, and cultural exchange.
