With conflict raging in Ukraine and Canada being house to lots of Ukrainian descent, together with the late former governor common (1990-95) Ray Hnatyshyn, the Ottawa-based Hnatyshyn Foundation introduced Wednesday (17 August) it should give out 20 awards of C$10,000 (round $7,760) every—formally the “Ukraine-Heritage, Spirit and Future” awards—with ten of these going to Canadian performing artists of Ukrainian heritage and the opposite ten earmarked for these from Ukraine who’ve lately been displaced. Visible artists have beforehand been honoured by the inspiration, however this time, in response to a spokesperson, “It was the choice of the inspiration to assist performing artists.”
Winners will seem at a fundraising gala and live performance on 16 September 2023 on the Jubilee Auditorium in Edmonton, Alberta, a metropolis that boasts a big Ukrainian group of roughly 150,000, greater than another Canadian metropolis. Little surprise hockey legend Wayne Gretzky was so properly acquired there.
The inspiration, created by Ray Hnatyshyn and his spouse Gerda in 2002, is trying to honour performers in some ten classes, every little thing from conventional choral music and dance to trendy vocal and classical efficiency. Solely youthful performers, these 35 years and fewer, are eligible.
“This particular awards program recognises the deep roots of the Hnatyshyn household in each Canada and Ukraine,” says Gerda Hnatyshyn. “With Russia’s conflict on Ukraine, we wished to make use of our twentieth anniversary 12 months to have a good time the vibrancy and resilience of Ukrainian tradition, id and spirit—right here in Canada and in Ukraine. We wish our programme to strengthen ties between artists.”
Yulia Kovaliv, Ukraine’s ambassador to Canada, was touched by the inspiration’s plan, saying, “We’re grateful to the Hnatyshyn Basis for recognising and celebrating Ukraine’s wealthy cultural legacy in Canada and for offering solidarity and assist to Ukrainian artists whilst Russia wages unjustified conflict on Ukraine, its individuals, historical past and tradition.”
The inspiration has beforehand supported visible artists, notably in 2017 when it awarded 150 Indigenous artists C$10,000 every to mark the a hundred and fiftieth anniversary of Canada. Among the many recipients that 12 months was Laakkuluk Williamson Bathory, who took house the celebrated Sobey Artwork Award in 2021. Different honourees have been Christi Belcourt, a Metis visible artist, Mi’kmaq artist Alan Syliboy and Todd DeVries, a Haida cedar bark weaver.
Functions for the 2022 awards might be accepted on-line on the Hnatyshyn Basis web site till 19 September, with outcomes to be introduced later in autumn and prizes awarded in early 2023. Proceeds from the September 2023 live performance gala will serve to revive or rebuild a cultural facility in Ukraine.
