An elaborate provincial award ceremony that was to be hosted in Lac La Biche County in June has been officially sidelined due to COVID-19 concerns.
The 2021 Lieutenant Governor of Alberta Distinguished Art Awards presentation slated to he showcased in the Lac La Biche community on June 12 has been postponed until next year.
The awards recognize Alberta artists from all themes of creative arts including music, visual arts and literature. The Lieutenant Governor of Alberta Arts Awards Foundation was established in 2003 and presents awards to existing and upcoming artists. Since it began, the foundation has recognized 63 emerging artists and 20 distinguished artists at separate presentations in communities across the province.
Alberta's Lieutenant Governor Salma Lakhani is expected to be in Lac La Biche next year for the inaugural double awards ceremony. By Gov't of AlbertaPlanning for the Lac La Biche has been a collaboration between the municipality and Portage College. The plans for the 2021 celebration were to include a week-long lead-up to the awards presentation highlighting local artisans in a festival-like setting. The awards gala banquet and ceremony had a long list of local and provincial dignitaries, including Alberta's current Lieutenant Governor Salma Lakhani.
Bigger next year
Portage College's Vice President of Public Relations Carrie Froehler says that while it's unfortunate the event to celebrate the distinguished artists has been officially postponed, next year's event will be larger, featuring both the distinguished and emerging artist presentations.
"Merging them brings such a great opportunity to the college and the county and the community. If we don't postpone it, the festival-type atmosphere we wanted to host with our community wouldn't be the same," said Froehler. "By allowing us to move the date and have it next year, we can bring the community together to celebrate those arts."
Bringing both the emerging and distinguished award recipients together in Lac La Biche County next year is a first for the foundation. Froehler said the suggestion to double-up the event came from the foundation.
"It was there recommendation and they are quite excited for us to be the inaugural setting for that," said Froehler.
Lac La Biche County Mayor Omer Moghrabi says it is disappointing for this year, but is looking forward to next year's bigger plans.
A specific date for next year's event has yet to be finalized.
Local awards
Lac La Biche artist Amy Malbeuf was a 2016 Lieutenant Governor of Alberta Emerging Artist Award recipient, and Cold Lake First Nation artist Alex Janvier was one of three Distinguished Art Award winners in 2017.
The awards come with financial rewards for artists recognized; emerging artists receive $10,000 each in prize money and distinguished artist recipients each receive $30,000. Funds are generated though the provincial arts foundation.
Deadlines for nominations in both categories for the 2021 recipients took place in February. While the gala has been postponed for this year, the announcement of this year's recipients will still go ahead in June. The announcement is expected to be done virtually. Information about the awards can be found at the Lieutenant Governor of Alberta Arts Awards website.
