Toronto Arts Council Foundation announces Jury for 2008 awards

Today the Toronto Arts Council Foundation (TACF) announced the jury for the 2008 Toronto Arts Council Foundation Awards which recognize artists, cultural professionals and arts supporters who have made significant contributions to Toronto’Äôs artistic and cultural life.

’ÄúWe are honoured to have such a respected and accomplished group of professionals donate their time and expertise to serve on the jury,’Äù said TACF executive director Claire Hopkinson.

Jury members for the 2008 Toronto Arts Council Foundation Awards hail from the performing arts, literary, visual arts, and corporate sectors and include: visual artist Stephen Andrews; broadcaster and arts advocate Laurie Brown; community arts activist Adonis Huggins; arts facilitator and educator Patty Jarvis; jazz singer Molly Johnson; set and costume designer Michael Levine; director of philanthropy for Sun Life Financial, Linda MacKenzie; founder and artistic director of b current ahdri zhina mandiela; playwright, actor, and director Andrew Moodie, kathak dancer and teacher Rina Singha, arts manager, performer and writer Jason van Eyk, editor-in-chief of Coach House Books Alana Wilcox, and d’Äôbi.young.anitafrika, recipient of the 2007 RBC Emerging Artist Award.

The 2008 Toronto Arts Council Foundation Awards, with cash prizes totaling $40,000, will comprise five categories: Arts for Youth Award; The Globe and Mail Business for the Arts Award; RBC Emerging Artist Award; Roy Thomson Hall Award of Recognition; and the William Kilbourn Award for the Celebration of Toronto's Cultural Life.

The deadline for nominations is fast approaching: Tuesday, July 22, 2008 at 5 pm. Nomination forms, criteria and awards adjudication policies for the 2008 Toronto Arts Council Foundation Awards are still available at www.torontoarts.org/awards.html.

Winners of the 2008 Toronto Arts Council Foundation Awards will be announced on Friday, October 17, 2008 at the Mayor’Äôs Arts Awards Lunch.

Incorporated in 1995 as a sister organization to Toronto Arts Council, Toronto Arts Council Foundation has a two-fold mission: to increase awareness of the value that artists and arts organizations bring to the city of Toronto and to increase resources for the arts. Toronto Arts Council Foundation administers a number of programs to further these goals and provides an opportunity for individuals, foundations and corporations to support a broad spectrum of initiatives and arts disciplines in the City of Toronto through tax-deductible contributions.