2023 ORILLIA REGIONAL ARTS & HERITAGE AWARDS

Following the success of past awards nights, the Orillia & District Arts Council (ODAC) and Orillia Museum of Art & History (OMAH) are planning the historic fifth annual Orillia Regional Arts and Heritage Awards (ORAH). On November 22, 2023, Orillia and area will come together to celebrate the best and brightest from the sector, at Creative Nomad Studios.

The awards were established to recognize the valuable contribution that educators, historians, and event organizers and supporters make to the vibrancy of our communities. 

Everyone is invited, no tickets or admission fees. The awards are proudly sponsored by eCapital. 

Come join and celebrate this vibrant sector in our region!

Members of the organizing committee have been working behind the scenes on the logistics and are excited to announce this year’s 2023 award categories: 

• Education in Arts, Culture and Heritage
• Emerging Artist
• Heritage: Restoration, Renovation and Publication
• Event in Arts, Culture and Heritage
• Qennefer Browne Achievement Award

Education in the Arts, Culture and Heritage Award looks to recognize an educator, not necessarily a teacher by profession, whose knowledge and teaching skills inspire others to pursue their interest in the arts and heritage.  

Emerging Artist Award recognizes an individual of any age who is in the early years (under five years) of launching a career in the arts. Nominees can be pursuing any genre of art including, but not limited to, visual arts, performance arts, literary arts and many more.

Heritage: Restoration, Renovation and Publication Award recognizes an individual or group who brought to life regional history through a physical restoration or creation of a permanent public record. 

Event in the Arts, Culture and Heritage Award looks to honour an individual, organization, or corporation for their part in organizing a single or annual event that showcases the region’s creative talent or cultural heritage. 

The Qennefer Browne Achievement Award recognizes an individual or group of individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to the cultural life of their community. Nominees may include artists, historians, volunteers, cultural organizations and donors. This award honours Qennefer Browne, who gave much of herself to support both arts and heritage organizations within the region. 

To nominate an individual or group for one of these prestigious awards, click on the link below. Similar to last year, all nominations will be gathered through this online portal, eliminating the need for hard copies. There will be no hard copies of nominations accepted. To help with this process and encourage nominations, a nominating committee has been formed with representatives from across the sector and region.

Title Sponsor

Presented by

Together, OMAH and ODAC serve the communities of Rama, Ramara, Oro-Medonte, Severn, and the City of Orillia. We are committed to recognizing the valuable contribution artists, historians, educators, event organizers and supporters make to the vibrancy of these communities and their citizens.