Nominations are OPEN for Buffys 2024: Wood Buffalo Excellence in Arts Awards
Nominations are now open for the 2024 Wood Buffalo Excellence in Arts Awards.
The Wood Buffalo Excellence in Arts Awards, lovingly nicknamed the Buffys, is our region’s premier arts event. The Buffys recognizes the artists and arts organizations demonstrating outstanding achievement and contribution to Wood Buffalo, as well as the vital role the arts play in making our community a place to call home.
This year, for the first time ever, the prestigious Arts Champion and Lifetime Achievement Awards will be open for public nomination. In the past, nominations for these awards were brought forward by the Arts Council Wood Buffalo Board of Directors, who then also selected the recipients through internal adjudication.
“Opening the Arts Champion and Lifetime Achievement Awards to public nomination will broaden the scope of who is recognized at the Buffys,” says ACWB Programs Manager Jenna Fewer. “We’re excited to hear the stories of artists who we might not otherwise see, but whose work deserves recognition.”
In addition to the fourteen awards that have been presented annually over the past 8 years, Arts Council Wood Buffalo is pleased to announce the addition of the new Youth Arts Leadership Award.
The Youth Arts Leadership Award recognises the outstanding leadership of an artist between the ages of 12 and 17. The artist could be working in any discipline and must demonstrate leadership among their peers. Leadership can be defined as guiding, inspiring, and empowering others; setting a positive example; fostering a supportive environment; advocacy for or through the arts; and facilitating growth and innovation within the artistic community.
“By creating the Youth Arts Leadership Award, we want to give the young people in our community more opportunities to be recognised for their remarkable contributions to the creative ecology in Wood Buffalo,” says Jenna Fewer, Programs Manager.
Nominations for the Wood Buffalo Excellence in Arts Awards can be made through the online submission form. Artists are also encouraged to self-apply to discipline-specific awards through our Buffys online portal.
The Buffys 2024 Award Categories are:
Arts Administration Award
Arts Education Award presented by CEDA
Craft Award
Creative Collaboration
Dance Award
Indigenous Artist Award presented by McMurray Métis
Ken Flaherty Music Award presented by the Flaherty Family
Literary Arts Award
Media Arts Award
Performing Arts Award
Rising Star Award
Visual Arts Award
Arts Champion Award
Lifetime Achievement Award
Youth Arts Leadership Award presented by Muessle Flett Law
The deadline to nominate an artist or arts organization is June 17, 2024 at noon. Entry materials and self-applications must be submitted by June 28, 2024 at noon.
All award recipients will be announced live at the Buffys 2024: Midnight in Miami Gala on October 19, 2024. This year’s gala will be bigger and more glamorous than ever before, at our new venue, Keyano Theatre and Arts Centre!
For more information about the Buffys, visit artscouncilwb.ca/buffys. Opportunities to support Buffys 2024 through sponsorship are still available. To become a sponsor, email partner@artscouncilwb.ca today!
