Announcing the 2022 Culture & Heritage Award recipients
The City of Nanaimo celebrates local excellence
NEWS RELEASE - Distributed February 9, 2022 11:00 AM
Summary
Every year since 1998, the City of Nanaimo has celebrated local excellence in arts and culture through the Culture & Heritage Awards. The annual awards program is an opportunity to honour extraordinary achievement while generating awareness and pride for the calibre of arts and culture activity in Nanaimo, as well as the dynamic impact of the sector on our community’s economic, social and cultural well-being.
The 2022 Culture & Heritage Award recipients:
Brendan Lee Satish Tang will receive the Excellence in Culture Award for his contributions in visual art. He is widely known for his sculptural ceramic work. Tang’s work explores issues of identity and the hybridization of our material and non-material culture while simultaneously expressing a love of both futuristic technologies and ancient traditions. Primarily known for his ceramic work, Tang continues to produce and exhibit work in a wide variety of media. He is the recipient of numerous awards and accolades, both nationally and internationally. Tang is a recipient of the 2016 Biennale Internationale de Vallauris Contemporary Ceramic Award, France, has been shortlisted for the Sobey Art Prize, and was a finalist in the Loewe Foundation’s International Craft Prize, Madrid, Spain. Tang’s work has been exhibited at the Museum of Anthropology, Vancouver, BC, the Gardiner Museum, Toronto, ON, Vancouver Art Gallery, Vancouver, BC, the Musee National Des Beaux-Arts du Quebec, Quebec City, QC, the Museo Internazionale delle Ceramiche, Faenza, Italy, the Musée d'Art Contemporain de Montréal, QC, the Boston Art Museum, Boston, MA , the Seattle Art Museum, Seattle, WA, the Foundation d’Entreprise Bernardaud, Limoges, France, among many others. In 2021, Tang created new work for a solo exhibition at Nanaimo Art Gallery called Reluctant Offerings.
Bruce Halliday will be celebrated with an Honour in Culture Award in recognition of his work as the Port Theatre’s longstanding General Manager/Director of Programming. Bruce, originally from Duncan, has spent his entire working life in the performing arts sector. After becoming General Manager in 2006, Bruce took over curating the “Spotlight Series” showcasing diverse artists and acts from across the country and internationally. Bruce’s career has been marked by the width and variety of experience, working as lighting designer, production manager and technical director for theatre companies, an instructor at The Banff Centre, special events for the Commonwealth Games and touring contemporary dance companies across Canada and overseas. Bruce has advised and guided emerging artists, local arts groups and professionals across the country. Managing the Port Theatre throughout the pandemic has been another monumental challenge that Bruce has tackled with intelligence, kindness, and thoughtfulness. The Port Theatre launched livestreaming to stay viable when the theatre closed its doors to the public due to health and safety restrictions. Bruce has mentored his staff and all rental clients (from community groups to promoters) to find positive solutions to navigate the ongoing changes. He was the first to say at the beginning of COVID-19, that it’s not just about surviving, but thinking about the recovery process and how we manage our relationships into the future.
Joy Bremner will receive an Honour in Heritage Award and is recognized for her leadership and dedicated work as a champion of the Mid Island Métis Nation (MIMN) over the past two decades. She is a long-time resident of Nanaimo with a history of giving back, supporting youth and families, and community service. Her work has had a positive impact across the region, creating greater awareness of Métis heritage and strengthened connections to culture for members of the Mid-Island Métis Nation and Métis Nation B.C. members. Joy has given her time freely to foster cultural awareness and education, often collaborating with non-profits and arts and culture organizations, including the Nanaimo Museum and Nanaimo Art Gallery. She bridges gaps that exist for Métis people, and represents the Métis, one of Canada’s three Indigenous people, in larger networks within the community. As a community leader, Joy is an advocate for health and wellness, collaboration, and Indigenous students, which improves the City for all of its residents. Over the many years in Nanaimo, she has always been ready to step forward with her time and knowledge through teaching classes and workshops on Métis heritage and culture. Her efforts in fundraising through grant writing on behalf of the Mid-Island Métis Nation has further served to preserve and promote cultural programs and Métis heritage. Joy Bremner is also a Métis Elder and a storyteller who shares her knowledge and traditional beading artwork.
Award recipients are named by Council. Throughout the year, the City accepts nominations from the community, which are reviewed by a panel before recommendations go to Council. Traditionally, recipients are honoured at a free community event at the Port Theatre with live performances. In 2022, celebrations will be adapted to align with COVID-19 safety protocols.
Link to Strategic Plan: The 2022 Culture & Heritage Award aligns with the goals of the City of Nanaimo’s Strategic Plan and the Cultural Plan for a Creative Nanaimo by: creating a vibrant culture of innovation, stewardship and partnership to encourage a diverse and healthy economy now and into the future; supporting arts and culture as an integral part of everyday life; and strengthening the creative sector by investing in organizations and people who animate our cultural spaces.
Key Points
- The annual Culture & Heritage Awards program celebrates and honours local excellence and achievement.
- 2022 recipients include: Excellence in Culture Award to Brendan Tang, Honour in Culture Award to Bruce Halliday, Honour in Heritage Award to Joy Bremner.
Quotes
"On behalf of City Council, I wish to congratulate the recipients of the 2022 Culture & Heritage Awards. Through the sharing of their talents, leadership, and passions, these individuals weave the threads that connect and enrich our community. Their exemplary achievements strengthen and beautify the City of Nanaimo’s cultural tapestry."