Buffys 2019

Midnight Coffeehouse was a resounding success! October 19, 2019 marked the annual Buffys; a cool and classy evening that celebrates local artists and showcases the diversity of the arts community in our region. Artists, art groups, supporters and – of course – those nominated for an award, gathered at the Suncor Energy Centre for the Performing Arts, which was transformed into the weird and wonderful artistic era of the Beat Generation. The 2019 Arts Awards were once again a showcase of the arts, celebrating almost 70 nominees through 14 award presentations, and presenting several live performances, taking place in two locations within SECPA.

2019 Award Recipients

Arts Administration - Sheri Donovan
Arts Champion - Rick Kirschner
Arts Education - Kelli Stewart
Craft - Ashley Laurenson
Creative Collaboration - Simma Downe
Dance - Nikita Proulx
Indigenous Arts - Bernadette Dumais
Lifetime Achievement - Valerie Gondek
Literary Arts - Theresa Wells
Media Arts - Steve Reeve
Music (Ken Flaherty Music Award) - Chris Pottie
Rising Star - Natalie Farahani
Theatre - Zachary Barrett
Visual Arts - Ruth Perry

2019 Buffy Awards

The 2019 Wood Buffalo Excellence in Arts Awards were created by Sedef Uzer Prakash. The awards are hand-knitted in the amigurumi style, the Japanese art of knitting or crocheting small, stuffed yarn creatures. This year’s awards are a whimsical tribute to the accomplishments of our arts community.

2019 Performances

Throughout the evening, guests were treated to the abundance of talent present in our community. The diverse and uniquely collaborative performances included dance, comedy, flow arts, spoken word, pantomime, and multiple musical genres. Special behind-the-scenes video shorts gave guests a glimpse into the artistic process of getting ready for the awards event. The Buffys continue to be a place for artists to experiment and perform in ways you often can’t see anywhere else.

Theme: Midnight Coffeehouse

The black box theatre, renamed “The Club” and decorated to be more intimate, hosted the pre- and post-show performances and festivities, while the gymnasium was transformed into “The Coffeehouse”, a place where great minds came together to connect and share. Everywhere you looked, the space was alive and buzzing with things to see, hear, and eat. Guests even dressed in the funky style of the beatniks, berets included!