Ann-Marie MacDonald hosts the 2011 Toronto Arts Foundation Awards celebration

October 14, 2011 - Acclaimed playwright, novelist and actor Ann-Marie MacDonald will emcee the sixth Mayor’s Arts Awards Lunch presented by Toronto Arts Foundation on October 20th at The Arcadian Court.

More than 300 guests will gather to celebrate artists, cultural professionals and arts supporters who have helped build Toronto’s vibrant civic life through their significant contributions to the city’s arts and culture scene. Five awards, with cash prizes totalling $48,500, will be presented at the event.

This year’s Toronto Arts Foundation Awards Finalists include: Canadian Contemporary Dance Theatre, Theatre Direct, and Young People’s Theatre for the Arts for Youth Award; Drake Hotel, Roberto Martella, and TD Bank Group for the Toronto Arts and Business Award; Adam Garnet Jones, Reza Jacobs, and Donna-Michelle St. Bernard for the RBC Emerging Artist Award; Andrew Burashko, Rita Chiarelli, and Dr. Trichy Sankaran for the Muriel Sherrin Award for International Achievement in Music; and Sudha Khandwani, Jane Marsland, and Don Oravec for the Rita Davies and Margo Bindhardt Cultural Leadership Award.

Special guests include leaders and innovators from the business, community and arts sectors: Ontario Arts Council’sJohn Brotman, Kevin Shea and Karen Thorne-Stone from OMDC, Sara Diamond from OCADU, and Helen Burstyn from The Partnership Project, architects Jack Diamond, Bruce Kuwabara and Eberhard Zeidler, Tim Jones of Artscape, J. Lorne Braithwaite of Build Toronto and city builders Julia Deans and John Tory from Civic Action, Jane Pyper of Toronto Public Library and author Andrew Pyper, RCM’s Mervon Mehta, theatre luminariesRichard Rose, Michael Hollingsworth and Graham Abbey, Shauna McCabe of Textile Museum of Canada, dancer/choreographer Nova Battacharya, Patricia Feheley of Feheley Fine Arts, broadcaster Matt Galloway, Jim Fleck of Business for the Arts, Robert J. Foster who co-chaired the Creative Capital Gains Report, and recent Bovey Award winner John D. McKellar.

The 2011 Toronto Arts Foundation Awards and the luncheon are made possible thanks to its outstanding sponsors:Founding Partner: RBC; Media Sponsors: The Globe and Mail, NOW Magazine; Award Sponsors: Martha Burns, Jim Fleck, James B. Pitblado, The Family of Margo Bindhardt, Diana Bennett and Spencer Lanthier, Toronto Arts Foundation, Business for the Arts, The Globe and Mail; Print Sponsor: C.J. Graphics Inc.; Photography Sponsor:Denise Grant Photography; Finalists Reception Sponsor: Drake Hotel; Benefactors: Aeroplan, Avie Bennett C.C., O.Ont., AXA Art in Canada, BMO Financial Group, Cannon Design, Concord Adex, Carpenters District Council of Ontario, George Brown College, Great-West Life, London Life and Canada Life, Heathbridge Capital Management, OCAD University OCADU, Susan Crocker and John Hunkin, Ontario Media Development Corporation, Ryerson Theatre School, Scotiabank Group, Sun Life Financial, TD Bank Group, Westjet, York University, Cathy and Barry Joslin, The John McKellar Charitable Foundation, Donald K. Johnson O.C., L.L.D., The George Partnership; Patrons:Architects Alliance, Centennial College, Dalton, Dancap Productions, Diamond and Schmitt Architects, Diana Bennett and Spencer Lanthier, Kuwabara Payne McKenna Blumberg Architects, Ontario Cultural Attractions Fund, The Arts Advocate, University of Toronto and Sheridan College, Brett Lamb Graphics & Illustration.

For more information on the finalists and awards visit www.torontoartsfoundation.org.

Toronto Arts Foundation exists to provide the creative opportunity for donors to support the arts in Toronto. TAF believes that a great city demands great art, and by supporting, celebrating, financing and advocating for Toronto’s local artists, we’re improving the quality of life of all Torontonians. Although separate entities, the Toronto Arts Council and Toronto Arts Foundation benefit by being run as sister organizations, ensuring close contact with the arts sector in Toronto and an ongoing awareness of activities and needs throughout the community. For more information on the awards and the work of the Toronto Arts Foundation, please visit www.torontoarts.org/awards.html.

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Media Contact:

Karen Lorenowicz, KL Strategic Communications, 416-243-0168, karen.l@sympatico.ca