Cultural award winners unveiled

The best of Oshawa’s cultural professionals has been determined.

The city has announced the 2019 recipients of the Oshawa Culture Counts Awards, which recognize a local professional artist, an emerging artist, and an innovation and creation champion.

The Oshawa Culture Counts Professional Artist Award has been awarded to Oshawa-based artist and branding design specialist Grant Cole. This award recognizes an established artist who has demonstrated creativity, originality, professional maturity and artistic leadership in the community.

Joaquin Manay has been awarded the Oshawa Culture Counts Emerging Artist Award, which recognizes emerging artists between the ages of 12 to 30 or those who are in the early stages of their career. This award encompasses all arts disciplines and recognizes those who are skilled and determined to advance their artistic capabilities and leverage their skills to inspire and enrich the lives of fellow residents.

The Innovation and Creation Champion Award, which recognizes individuals, collectives and/or organizations in the creative and cultural industries who have created or enhanced an event, product, program or partnership in the past year, has been awarded to Laura Suchan, executive director of the Oshawa Museum.

The winners will receive a $200 honorarium and will be featured in a special program at The RMG’s Friday event on March 1.