Celebrating local arts, artists and city mayor’s dance moves

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This article was published 06/06/2025 (483 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A who’s who of Winnipeg’s arts and cultural institutions gathered at RBC Convention Centre Thursday for the Mayor’s Luncheon for the Arts.

The colourful group was joined by more soberly attired business leaders and politicos, most notably the event’s namesake, Mayor Scott Gillingham, for the annual celebration of “promise, excellence, creativity and support of the arts” hosted by the Winnipeg Arts Council (WAC).

After 30 minutes of networking and niceties, the attendees swayed and clapped along as NAfro Dance Productions, led by Casimiro Nhussi, filled the room with African song.

Moved by the music, Gillingham made his way to the front of the room, where he cut a rug with more verve than most politicians.

Speakers included Winnipeg’s poet laureate Jennifer Still, Gillingham and Andrew McLaren, current WAC chairman. MC Natalie Bell punctuated the speeches with jokes, asides and, at one point, a sweetly parodic rendition of Over the Rainbow about the event.

Guests ate a catered lunch, many sipping a cheeky midday beer or wine, while taking in the love-in between the City of Winnipeg and the local arts and cultural industry.

“It’s a kickoff to just a fantastic summer season of art festivals,” Gillingham said in his speech. “Each of these events and more is supported through the Winnipeg Arts Council and, by extension, supported by the people of our community. These events build community. They certainly enrich our economy and they make our summers unforgettable.”

The event’s highlight was the presentation of the 2025 WAC Awards.

Dancer Natalie Sluis won in the RBC On the Rise Award category. The emerging hard-of-hearing artist and 2023 graduate of the School for Contemporary Dancers’ Professional Program is also a choreographer and singer.

Sluis, who’s in the early stages of producing a show with dance partner Thomas Oberlin, showed special gratitude to her mentors and allies.

“I’ve been supported for years by the deaf and accessibility communities. I’ve also been inspired by a lot of people, including Brenda Gorlick, who’s in the musical theatre sector. She’s an amazing person, and really took me under her wing,” she said after her speech.

Bassist, composer and administrator Ashley Au won the Making a Mark Award.

Au’s impact is felt all over the Prairie art scene, from her sound artistry for theatres including Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre, Prairie Theatre Exchange and the Citadel Theatre; her work with Polaris Prize-nominated hip-hop outfit Super Duty Tough Work; her role as artistic director of Cluster New Music + Integrated Arts Festival, and more.

After quipping about her natural reserve as a bassist, Au entreated artists to confront the “global rise in fascism.”

“We’re at the front lines of a cultural resistance through the art that we make,” she said. “It’s more important than ever to support the free expression of artists.”

The final prize, the Making a Difference Award, went to Jaimie Isaac.

The former curator of contemporary and Indigenous Art at the Winnipeg Art Gallery is equally celebrated for a growing body of grassroots interventions. Many of these have flowed from her all-female Indigenous arts group the Ephemerals and her “roving” Rosemary Gallery, which she co-directs with Suzanne Morrissette.

“I rant on about how frustrating it is to try and decolonize and make space and inclusion in institutions,” said the Anishinaabe curator and interdisciplinary artist from Sagkeeng First Nation in her acceptance speech.

“But I’m so honoured to work alongside such a beautiful arts and cultural community here in Winnipeg. I’ve lived in other cities, but there’s no place like home here in Winnipeg. ‘Winipihk’ meaning muddy waters, which we need fiercely to protect and preserve.”

Other nominees for the 2025 WAC Awards included visual artist Claire Johnston, musician Duncan Cox, and singer-performer Julia Davis in the RBC on the Rise category; visual artist Dominique Rey and theatre practitioner Hazel Venzon in the Making a Mark category; arts administrator Darlene Ronald, educator-consultant Sue Hempill and flutist Jan Kocman, who just retired from the WSO after 51 years, in the Making a Difference category.

conrad.sweatman@freepress.mb.ca