On Tuesday evening, the MacLaren Art Centre played host to the 16th annual Barrie Arts Awards.
“These awards celebrate not only the achievements of individual artists but also the transformative impact they have on our community’s vibrancy and economic growth,” said Mayor Alex Nuttall during the ceremony.
“The city of Barrie is proud to support and recognize the invaluable contributions of our creative sector.”
This year, the emerging artist award was snagged by Sarah Hancock, an Angus-based mixed-medium eco-artist known for her photography, sculpture, textiles and installations.
“I was shocked to have made it as a nominee, but to win wasn’t even on my horizon,” says Hancock. “The lesson is to always shoot your shot. . . . In the very worst case, you’re getting practice applying for things, an important skill for any artist behind the scenes.”
The accolade is one of several laurels Hancock has received in 2024. During the banner year, she has also won the Murray J. Clerkson Award from the Blue Mountain Foundation for the Arts as well as the Louis Odette Sculpture Award from York University.
“Simcoe County’s forests have always been my inspiration. They are a treasure – and where I source most of my materials for my sculptural and installation-based work. I even forage them for the dyes I use in my textiles.”
The Contribution to the Community Award was claimed by local theatre director and producer Iain Moggach, who stepped down from serving as the artistic director of Theatre by the Bay (TbtB) in August, after nine years with the company. “I am honoured to have won the award. . . . I am so glad [the community] wholly embraced [TbtB’s] audience engagement and community building events.”
During his time with TbtB, Moggach helped launch several initiatives designed to make live theatre more popular with and accessible to local audiences. One, the Barrie Theatre Lab, is a monthly event that provides would-be playwrights with the opportunity to see their scripts performed by professional actors. Another, the annual Simcoe County Theatre Festival plays host to short plays written, directed, and performed by artists from across Simcoe County.
“The Simcoe County Theatre Festival is really, really special. In the past three years, it has produced more than 19 plays,” he says. “It’s also gaining traction in the community — the audience more than doubled at this year’s event.”
Each year, the Artist Beyond Barriers award is presented to an artist, writer or performer who does not allow recurrent mental or physical disability to dim his or her creative output. This year, it was awarded to Carolyn M. Boyd, arguably Simcoe County’s best-known living landscape artist.
“It is such an honour to have been recognized by my own community — my heart is full,” says Boyd. “I couldn’t have done it without the MacLaren Arts Centre or the Barrie Arts Club. They’ve been a very good support for me.”
Boyd was recognized for her work as an art class teacher and leader of group workshops while suffering from fibromyalgia, myofascial pain syndrome, chronic fatigue syndrome as well as several other conditions.
“I hope I can remain a voice — however small — for other artists like me. Advocacy is really important.”
Currently, Boyd’s work can be seen at the Women’s Art Association of Canada in Toronto. She will also be visiting the city later this month, competing against ten other painters in an art battle.
The excellence in the arts award was won by Bruno Smoky, a Brazilian-Canadian muralist, graffiti artist and multimedia visual artist who has made his home in Barrie for the past five years. Smoky is best known for his mural celebrating the 75th anniversary of the United Nations.
Local entertainment consultant Ryan Farley collected the business champion award. In the past nine years, the veteran grant writer has helped numerous local artists secure funds from the Canada Council for the Arts.
Jules Ozon, an 18-year-old non-binary mezzo soprano known to their 300,000 social media followers as JULES IS DEAD, also claimed the most promising youth award. The award comes several months after the release of their single Eternally (Undeath).
An earlier version of this piece incorrectly described the single as an upcoming album release.
