There will be one more reason to celebrate all things St. Albert in two years.
The biennial awards ceremony celebrates artists of all stripes from across the province. Prizes range from $10,000 for as many as 10 emerging artists up to $30,000 for three distinguished artists for their achievements or contributions. Douglas Cardinal, architect of St. Albert Place, was one of the first recipients.
Susan Green, chair of the Lieutenant Governor of Alberta Arts Awards Foundation, said there were several reasons why the committee chose St. Albert over the other proposals, and it all started with how the submission looked.
“First, we were very charmed by the presentation,” she said, mentioning the hand-embroidered cover. “It was a nice introduction.”
More compelling to them were a few other factors that she said made the decision easier. She mentioned the anniversary and St. Albert’s track record for supporting the arts, as well as being able to host major events. A former resident also loomed large in their consideration.
The awards were founded by the late Lieut.-Gov. Lois Hole, a St. Albert resident. Bringing the event to the city is meant to pay tribute to her and her support and encouragement of culture and the arts.
“It’s wonderful to be able to have such a strong proposal from the community in which she thrived under.”
The board was also struck by St. Albert’s strong francophone and Métis heritage and how members of those groups will have a significant presence during the anniversary festival.
In a press release, Mayor Nolan Crouse stated that this is one more reason to build anticipation for the 2011 celebrations and beyond.
“St. Albert has built a strong reputation for its thriving arts and culture scene, which enriches the lives of our residents and visitors. Hosting the gala will further enhance that reputation.”
