2024 Spotlight Awards
The Spotlight Awards celebrate exemplary programming taking place each year as part of the Ontario Culture Days festival. Each category celebrates the creativity and ingenuity of local organizers who have brought events to Ontario audiences.
Both event organizers and festival attendees are invited to nominate programs that they feel have exemplified the themes below. Organizers are welcome to nominate their own programs, as well as others.
The winners of the 2024 Spotlight Recognition Program will be awarded a VIA travel gift certificate.
Deadline for Nominations: Monday, October 28 at 11:59 PM EDT
In order to be eligible for Spotlight, programming must have been registered as an Ontario Culture Day event and taken place in the province of Ontario over the Ontario Culture Days festival (Sep 20 – Oct 13, 2024.)
Best In-person Program
In-person programming often allows for deep, meaningful engagement. This award recognizes organizers who offered creative in-person participation that resulted in an enriching, but safe and welcoming audience experience.
People's Choice
People’s Choice is an open-category accolade that allows the general public to recognize any program and its overall contribution to the Ontario Culture Days festival. The nominee that receives the greatest number of votes online will be awarded the Spotlight.
Best Collaborative Program
Progress in arts programming is often fuelled by collaboration. The most unique events are the result of various artists or groups coming together to create something new. This category will recognize events hosted by two or more organizers, particularly interdisciplinary programming.
Warren Garrett Inclusive Programming Award
There are many barriers that exist that deter people from participating in arts and culture. This category recognizes organizers who have shown leadership in designing festival programming that works towards dismantling these barriers, and fostering a more inclusive arts and culture sector in Ontario.