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Hey, Applause readers,
No time for a full newsletter this week, but I’ll take a moment to reflect on how lovely it is to attend the Mayor’s Luncheon for the Arts each year, and revel in how much Winnipeg values our artistic community.
Awards ceremonies are by their nature self-congratulatory, but I always get a little choked up by watching people win things that are meaningful, either to them or to me.
On Thursday at the convention centre, it was a nice case of those things overlapping. The annual luncheon is a chance for the Winnipeg Arts Council to recognize four artists in any discipline at various stages of their careers.
From left: Victor Bargen (accepting the Career Achievement Award for his wife, Brenda Gorlick); Making a Mark Award winner Sharon Bajer; Making a Difference Award winner Jennine Krauchi; and Ekene Emeka-Maduka, winner of the RBC On the Rise Award. (Ruth Bonneville / Free Press)
At this year’s event the winners were either people whose work I’ve long admired or artists I’m keen to discover, but either way, it was an inspiring afternoon, celebrating those who have brought joy and introspection and instruction to local audiences.
It’s also a celebration of the value we put on the arts in Winnipeg. Mayor Scott Gillingham’s address was a testament to civic support, reaffirming the completion of his 2022 campaign promise to return the funding of the Winnipeg Arts Council to pre-pandemic levels, while introducing a four-year program of $500,000 capital grants to downtown arts institutions.
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The event also provided a tantalizing sneak peek of Ma-Buhay, the brand new Filipino musical that opens at Rainbow Stage on June 27, with music and lyrics by Joseph Sevillo and featuring Stratford/Broadway vocal powerhouse Andrea Macasaet (Six).
I’ll be back next week with a less cursory missive!
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