Governor General's Awards in Visual and Media Arts

What is this prize?

The Governor General's Awards in Visual and Media Arts are granted to artists in recognition of remarkable careers in either of those fields.

Award amounts

Up to eight awards of $25,000 each:

• up to six awards of $25,000 each for distinguished achievement in the visual (including architecture and photography) or media arts;
• one award of $25,000 is presented as the Saidye Bronfman Award for excellence in the fine crafts;
• one award of $25,000 is given to recognize the outstanding contribution to the visual arts (including architecture and photography), media arts or to fine crafts of an individual or group in a volunteer or professional capacity, through philanthropy, board governance, community outreach activities, or as a director of an organization, curator, programmer, educator, critic or dealer/distributor.

How to qualify

Nominations must be submitted to the Council by a recognized Canadian specialist in the visual or media arts or fine crafts.

A peer assessment committee will select the recipients from among all nominations received.

For eligibility criteria, the nomination form and further information on these prizes, see the Governor General's Awards in Visual and Media Arts Guidelines and the Governor General's Awards in Visual and Media Arts website.

Deadline(s)

Annual

1 June

Who created this prize?

These awards were created in 1999 by a partnership between the Canada Council for the Arts and Roméo LeBlanc, then Governor General of Canada, who committed Government House to hosting in perpetuity the annual ceremony that honours the recipients at Rideau Hall.