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.

The winners of the 2024 Spotlight Awards will be awarded a VIA Rail Canada travel gift certificate.

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.)

Categories
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.

Best In-Person Program

Photo by Dave Raymond
Winner

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.

Photo by Niki Kaloudas
Runner-Up

Traditional Iroquois Pottery

Organized by Tett Centre for Creativity and Learning with Sheldon Traviss

Kingston, ON

The two-day workshop, led by Tett Artist in Residence Sheldon Traviss, offered a hands-on opportunity to engage with Indigenous culture and learn through the creation of traditional Iroquois pottery. Participants worked with wild clay, formed pottery vessels, and prepared them for firing.

Best Collaborative Program

Photo courtesy of the organizers
Winner

Paris Birds for Diversity

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.

Photo courtesy of Herman Custodio
Runner-Up

Watercolour painting at Dearbourne Pollinator Habitat

Organized by City of Brampton & Visual Arts Brampton

Brampton, ON

Visual Arts Brampton collaborated with the City of Brampton’s Environmental Planning unit to offer a free, family-friendly pollinator-themed watercolour session in the Pollinator Garden. Participants learned about pollinators and native plants while practising new art skills.

Warren Garrett Inclusive Programming Award

Photo courtesy of the organizer
Winner

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.

Photo by Marc Douglas
Runner-Up

Say Something DIY Banner Making

Organized by Big Cityyy Arts

Paris, ON

This lively workshop invited participants to craft graphic mini banners with bold messages using paint, glue, and glitter. The event encouraged attendees of all ages to embrace their creativity, explore self-expression, and make art that speaks loudly and proudly. Take-home options made the fun accessible to all!

People’s Choice

Photo courtesy Ebru Winegard
Winner

Nature's Threads

Organized by Ebru Winegard

Part of Culture Days Barrie organized by Creative Barrie Team at the City of Barrie. This activity took place at Open Air Meridian event organized by Downtown Barrie BIA.

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.

Photo courtesy Town of Oakville
Runner-Up

Music Without Borders – Arabic Jazz Concert JazzYat

Organized by Town of Oakville

Oakville, ON

This performance highlighted popular Arabic Jazz songs and blended jazz improvisations with traditional Arabic sounds. It was presented as part of the Music Without Borders Festival. Music Direction is by Gaby Al Botros.