Two prestigious local arts awards

The Kingston Prize is a biennial, national competition for contemporary portraits of Canadians by Canadian artists organized through the Kingston Arts Council. The main prize is $20,000 (increased from $10,000 in 2011), presented by the W. Garfield Weston Foundation to the winner chosen by a jury of arts experts. This year’s winner will be announced on November 10, 2011. The competition began in 2005, with an exhibition at the Thousand Islands Playhouse in Gananoque. The competition attracted 150 entries in 2005 and 450 entries in 2011. To be eligible, an entry must be a painting or drawing of a specific Canadian person, produced within 24 months of the closing date.

The Nan Yeomans’ Grant for Artistic Development helps promising local young artists and/or artisans in furthering their education and professional artistic growth. This annual grant, totalling $2,500, is awarded by a peer jury based on the artistic merit of their work and previous accomplishments. The awards were named after Nan Yeomans, an artist who lived most of her adult life in Kingston, until her passing in 2004. Through her estate, she started the Nan Yeoman’s fund at the Community Foundation of Kingston & Area.