Honour Kingston’s artists and arts leaders with a Mayor’s Arts Award nomination

The Mayor’s Arts Awards nominations are officially open! The Awards are presented to Kingston’s artists and cultural champions in recognition of artistic excellence, leadership, and contribution to the arts.  

Nominations are being accepted from the public for Creator Awards, which recognize artistic merit and/or innovative ideas that foster the arts in Kingston, contribute to artistic development and express the city’s cultural vitality, and the Arts Champion Award that celebrates an arts leader who has made an extraordinary contribution to the arts sector and supported its sustained growth and development. Posthumous awards are also considered within each category, recognizing an individual who has passed and left a legacy on Kingston’s arts community.  

“The arts bring people together, spark conversation and help tell the story of our community,” said Nicole Daniels, Executive Director, Kingston Arts Council. “These awards are a chance to recognize the artists, collectives, supporters and community leaders whose work behind the scenes and in the spotlight helps make Kingston’s arts sector so dynamic and resilient.” 

A Nominations Subcommittee made up of community members, representatives from the Arts, Culture & Heritage Advisory Committee, and chaired by the Kingston Arts Council, is responsible for selecting award recipients. Nominations close July 3 at 5 p.m. 

The 2026 Mayor’s Arts Awards will be presented at a Mayor’s Arts Awards Event later this year. For more information on rules and eligibility, or to submit a nomination, please visit CityofKingston.ca/Awards.