SUDBURY—Four artists were honoured by their peers, patrons of the arts and community leaders on Wednesday, May 18, at the Sudbury 2016 Mayor’s Celebration of the Arts.
Singer/songwriter Kevin Closs, Andrew Knapp and Christian Pelletier, founders of the Up Festival, and graphic designer and teacher Johanna Westby won bursaries to help them support and continue their work.
In addition to the honour of being recognized by their peers, the artists were awarded cash bursaries to help them continue to pursue their creative projects. Corporate sponsors and ticket sales support the event and bursaries. Now in its third year, the Celebration is an initiative of the Sudbury Arts Council, in collaboration with Regroupement des organismes culturels de Sudbury (ROCS).
Kevin Closs, formerly of Manitoulin and son of Manitowaning’s Marilyn Wohlberg, received a $3,500 bursary and The Award for Exceptional Achievement in the Arts. He is a singer-songwriter who has released 11 independent albums and played concerts, festivals and clubs across Canada. His contributions to the Sudbury arts community earned him the Northern Lights Festival Boréal’s Jackie Washington Award in 2002. He has been active in theatre as an actor and musician most notably starring in Theatre Cambrian’s Jesus Christ Superstar in 1992 and 1996. He regularly facilitates songwriting workshops and has also produced recordings for several young Sudbury musicians. He is currently the chair of Northern Lights Festival Boreal.
