2022 Arts Recognition Awards

It is the most anticipated event of the year: the prestigious Quinte Arts Council Arts Recognition Awards presented at the Mayor’s Luncheon for the Arts.

“For nearly 30 years, the QAC has hosted this celebration of local artists and arts organizations for their artistic excellence, cultural leadership and contribution to the arts,” says Janet Jarrell, Executive Director. “Our 2022 Champions are working behind the scenes, giving children the gift of music, in video production or making the northern edge of Quinte the place to be for theatre – these winners are truly arts champions.”

Tweed & Company: creates and produces original Canadian musical theatre and presents other professional Canadian theatre productions. Nominator Victoria McCulloch says “This season, more than 50 contract performers, technicians and creative team members will be hired from home and across the country, as well as local theatre camp counsellors. Patrons support local businesses, hotels and restaurants.” 

Dan Atkinson served on the QAC board for 13 years and joined the board of the Quinte Ballet School of Canada in 2014 after retiring from Welch LLP. “Dan has exhibited an understanding of the Quinte Ballet School of Canada. He was able to convey in layman’s language the importance of being fiscally responsible in order to ensure that the artistic vision can be realized,” says Nominator Catherine Taylor. 

Eighty Twenty Studio: Nominator Dug Stevenson, of the Bay of Quinte Regional Marketing Team, says, “Victor Cooper and Kelly McKinney are repeatedly creating high-quality products for their clients in a way that is raising the bar for video quality in our region and across southeastern Ontario. Their series Stoney Lonesome not only tells stories about our home, but they also shot it in our home, cast many local actors, and they’re helping to put our home on the map by successfully pitching it to Bell for their Fibe streaming channel.”

Howard Rees is a jazz musician passionate about mentoring and developing a love of music in children. Nominated by Andrea Kerr, former Curriculum Coordinator for the Arts at the HPEDSB. “Howard had an immense impact on 130 students from four schools in the center of Belleville. Students studied his original choral jazz music, improvisation, and lyric writing…expanding their pride in themselves, their creativity, self-esteem, concentration, a sense of belonging, and music skills, as well as an appreciation for the performing arts.”

Anne Cunningham: An arts educator, visual artist and arts advocate Anne Cunningham is a pillar of the arts community in Quinte. In the 1970s, she joined the Quinte Arts Council board, where she served for over four decades as a Director, Vice-Chair, Chair and Past Chair. “Anne’s significant contributions and impact to the arts demonstrates why these awards were created many years ago,” says nominator Marilyn Lawrie, former Executive Director of the Quinte Arts Council. “She deserves to be recognized for all she has done for the focus upon and nourishment of the arts in our community. This region is so much stronger for having Anne in our creative midst.”

Thank you to the event sponsors McDougall Insurance and Financial, Ralph Johnston, The John M. & Bernice Parrott Foundation and The City of Belleville, and to host Paul Dinkel of Paulo’s/Dinkel’s Restaurants and local artist Mark Armstrong for designing the awards.