John Hobday Awards in Arts Management

Jessica Wadsworth (top) and Sky Goodden (bottom)

Photo: Diane Smithers (top) and Gemma Warren (bottom)

Current Winners

Jessica Wadsworth
Executive Director of CADA/West

Professional Development and Renewal Award

Jessica Wadsworth, B.A., is a multi-disciplinary arts manager, writer, producer, and documentary filmmaker. Based in Vancouver, Jessica has organized and overseen events, tours, and exhibitions all over the world. She has demonstrated a life-long commitment to supporting a vibrant Canadian cultural scene through her actions both personal and professional. She is also a founding member of SEARA (Sector-Equity for Anti-Racism in the Arts) and a member of the Collective Bunch – a resource for culturally diverse talent within the film and creative industry.

Jessica will use the Professional Development and Renewal Funds to develop tools to better serve and advocate for her community and to engage in potential partnerships across Canada, namely through participation in an immersion program to become fluent in both official languages in Canada.

Sky Goodden
Founding Publisher and Editor of Momus

Mentorship Award

Sky Goodden is the founding Publisher and Editor of Momus, an international online art publication and podcast. Momus has quickly become a trusted reference for those wishing to reflect on contemporary art at a slightly slower pace, and with greater focus and integrity than online platforms typically allow. Momus publishing has been shortlisted five times for the International Award for Art Criticism; its Contributing Editor Catherine G. Wagley won the Rabkin Foundation Award for art journalism in 2019; and more than a dozen of its contributors have been awarded Creative Warhol Arts Writers Grants.

Through the Mentorship Award, Sky will be mentored under Sara Angel, the Founder and Executive Director of the Art Canada Institute (ACI). The project will address cross-generational mentorship in arts publishing.

What is this prize?

The John Hobday Awards in Arts Management are granted to talented arts managers in Canadian professional arts organizations for professional development or mentoring purposes.

The Professional Development and Renewal Award is granted to an outstanding arts manager wishing to take part in a short term recognized program, seminar or workshop.
The Mentorship Award goes to an arts manager who is seeking to acquire different knowledge, experience and skills under the supervision of a mentor.

Who created this prize?

These prizes were established with a $1 million donation from the Samuel and Saidye Bronfman Family Foundation to the Canada Council for the Arts. John Hobday made an enormous contribution to improving the work quality and professionalism of Canadian arts managers by promoting professional development and continuous training and focusing on the profession's importance for the growth and viability of the arts.