This year we are celebrating 23 years of artistic achievement. The Kitchener-Waterloo Arts Awards Committee conducts events that recognize the spectacular artistic talent that thrives in this community. 

Twelve (12) categories of achievements are awarded from public nominations of both amateur and professional artists:
- Literary: Includes all forms of creative writing, fiction, non-fiction, poetry, prose, etc.
- Visual Arts: Includes painting, sculpture, multi-media, film, photography, etc.
- Performing Arts: Includes theatre, dance, mime, musical, artistic or technical direction, etc.
- Music: Includes musical performance, composition, conducting, etc.
- Mentor: Includes educator, leader, etc.
- Open: Includes arts supporters, volunteers,radio group musical instructors, etc.
- Textile, Fibre, Quilting Arts Award
- Leading Edge: any arts discipline; under 25 years of age.
- Festival or Event: click for more
- New Festival or Event: click for more
- Festival or Event Volunteer Program: click for more
- Festival or Event Community Achievement: click for more
 

Two (2) categories are awarded each year by the Arts Awards Jury for Lifetime and Corporate achievements to the arts:
- Lifetime Achievement
- Corporate Arts Supporter

Arts Awards Winners receive the prestigious Denney statuette created exclusively for the Kitchener-Waterloo Arts Awards by local artist Alan Denney and a silver Denney pin created by Knar Jewellery. Leading Edge Award Winners receive a framed certificate and a cash honorarium.
 

Festival or Event
This award recognizes events (festivals, concerts, other live performance productions) for their outstanding accomplishment and service in the field of event production. They must have been open for the public to attend. The recipients will be judged by the jury for:
- Overall contributions to the field of event production.
- Professionalism and quality of presentation.
- Impact of the festival/event including attendance, community benefits, quality of programming and potential legacy
- How well the event met their objectives
- Entries must outline the conception, development and execution of the new festival or event.
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New Festival or Event
Same as above except event must be held for the first time.
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Festival or Event Volunteer Program
Entries must demonstrate what techniques and strategies were used in a volunteer program. The entry should outline the management process of volunteers for a festival/event and highlight a minimum of five (5) of the following:
- Volunteer Application Form
- Formal Volunteer Recruitment Process
- Recognition Program
- Volunteer Event Identification
- Volunteer Job Descriptions
- Volunteer Handbook
- Orientation/Training Program
- Volunteer Program Policies
- Volunteer Risk Management Practices
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Festival or Event - Community Achievement
Entries must illustrate how the festival/event partnered with community-oriented organizations and how each benefited from the partnership.
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NOMINATION CRITERIA 

Nominees are assessed by the jury based on the following criteria:
-  Artistic Excellence
-  Sustained development over a minimum of 3 years in the Waterloo Region (except Festival or Event categories)
-  Impact on the community
-  No conflict of interest

It is preferred that a minimum of 4 nominations be considered per category.
Only current nominations are eligible for consideration. Nominations from previous years will not be carried over; however, nominations for past nominees may be resubmitted on the current nomination form.
At the discretion of the jury, an award will not necessarily be given in every category. Eligible nominations will be carried over to the next year, with the agreement of the nominee. The jury reserves the right to redesignate the category selected by the nominee.

THOSE MAKING NOMINATIONS
Nominators must complete an official nomination form, provide the name of an endorser and include a description of the candidate’s contribution to the arts in the Waterloo Region. The nominator and endorser must not be a family member, co-habiting partner or when the nominee is an organization, the nominator and endorser cannot be a board member or staff person of the organization.

JURY SELECTED AWARDS
Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes lifelong dedication to the arts.
Corporate Arts Supporter Award recognizes exceptional corporate support to the arts.
These two jury-selected awards are chosen from a jury chosen database and also out of current nominations. Awarded at the discretion of the jury.
A Special Jury Award recipient may be selected by the jury from the year’s nominees, as deemed worthy by the jury.

JURY
The Jury is at arms-length from the Arts Awards Committee.
Jury members may not submit nominations in the year which they serve on the jury.

COMMITTEE
Committee members may not submit nominations.