Walter Carsen Prize for Excellence in the Performing Arts

Yves Sioui Durand

Photographer(s): Chris Randle

Current Winner

Yves Sioui Durand

Yves Sioui Durand is a Huron-Wendat writer, actor, and stage and film director. In 1985, he co-founded Ondinnok, a groundbreaking Indigenous theatre company in Quebec. His creations unwind a blossoming of mythological allegories aiming to clear the collective air and stop the alienation of Indigenous people. He has written more than 14 dramatic works for Radio-Canada radio and more than 26 plays, including Le Porteur des peines du monde (1985, performed at the FTA), La Conquête de Mexico (1991), Iwouskéa et Tawiskaron (1999, performed at the FTA), Xajoj Tun Rabinal Achi (2010) and Un monde qui s’achève – Lola (2015). In 2010, he directed the feature film Mesnak, which received a multitude of awards and mentions, and in 2017 won a Governor General’s Performing Arts Award and a REVEAL award from the Hnatyshyn Foundation, highlighting his outstanding contribution to the performing arts. In 2018, he was honoured to be named a Companion of the Ordre des arts et lettres du Québec. He continues his work as a creator and mentor at Ondinnok.

The prize

The Walter Carsen Prize for Excellence in the Performing Arts recognizes the highest level of artistic merit and distinguished career achievement by a Canadian professional artist in music, theatre or dance.

Type of prize

The prize can reach $50,000 and is awarded on a 4-year cycle—in dance, theatre, dance and music. The prize to be awarded in 2024 will be in the field of dance.

Background

Walter Carsen established the endowment fund for the prize in February 2001 through a generous donation of $1.1 million to the Canada Council, which administers and promotes this award.