Arts Ottawa Awards
Community-Informed Redesign
Photo: Eric Reid
The Ottawa Arts Awards, originally led by the Ottawa Arts Council, have recognized local contributions to the arts for over 35 years. As the Council transitioned to Arts Ottawa, a review and redesign of the program was initiated to align with current sector needs and priorities.
Process Overview
Between February and June 2025, Arts Ottawa led a multi-phase community engagement process to inform the redesign of the awards:
February 28, 2025 – Open Office Hours 13 participants confirmed the awards’ relevance and identified several needs, including post-award support, redefinition of terms like “emerging artist,” multilingual accessibility, and cross-sector inclusion.
April 21, 2025 – Community Advisory Circle 26 participants formed a working group to co-lead the redesign process.
June 4, 2025 – E-Learning Lab 33 participants took part in a co-learning session with representatives from Toronto, Calgary, and Montreal to examine award models and identify best practices.
June 11, 2025 – Co-Creation Workshop 25 participants at Arts Court developed ideas into draft frameworks using MEL (Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning) tools. Key priorities included year-round recognition, access to professional development, and inclusive nomination criteria.
New Model: Summary of Features
The updated Arts Ottawa Awards will now:
Recognize five nominees each year
Accept nominations from individuals, collectives, volunteer-led organizations, youth, non-arts organizations contributing to the arts, and more
Remove distinction between emerging and established artists
Focus on demonstrated community impact
Each nominee will receive:
A cash prize (final amount pending sponsor confirmation)
Media kits
Increased visibility through Arts Ottawa platforms
Year-long recognition
Award recipients may also have access to resources (mentorship, space) and professional development opportunities, depending on availability and sponsorship.
Key Dates
November 2025 – Launch event
January 2026 – Awards event where winners are announced
Sign up for our Arts Ottawa newsletter for the announcement of exact dates
Call for Participation
Volunteers: Various roles will be available for the event and supporting activities. Contact Joni Hamlin at joni@artsottawa.ca to express your interest.
Sponsors: Opportunities include launch event invites and speaking opportunities, media presence, and contribution to in-kind or financial support. Reach out to Nicole Milne at nicole@artsottawa.ca to learn more.
For general information, contact info@artsottawa.ca.