Governor General’s Awards in Visual and Media Arts 2021

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Canada Council for the Arts video portrait series.

Stills from the Canada Council for the Arts video portrait series featuring the 2021 winners of the Governor General's Awards. Courtesy of the Gallery.

Exhibition Opening will be held on Friday Oct. 14 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m

The Art Gallery of Greater Victoria presents the Governor General’s Awards in Visual and Media Arts 2021, in collaboration with the Canada Council for the Arts. The exhibition features the work of the 2021 award winners and is curated by AGGV Chief Curator Jaimie Isaac.

“The AGGV is honoured to have been selected by the Canada Council for the Arts to curate and host the 2021 exhibition,” said Nancy Noble, CEO/Director, Art Gallery of Greater Victoria. “It is a rare opportunity to see the work of these artists, who live in all parts of Canada, together in one location.”

An all-day Public Open House on Oct. 15 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., events are free and open to the public. The award winning artists will take place in a Panel Discussion between 10:30 a.m. and Noon during the Public Open House.

Canada’s prestigious Governor General’s Awards in Visual and Media Arts is a lifetime achievement award recognizing an artist’s career, body of work and contribution to the visual arts, media arts or fine crafts in Canada. In 2021, eight artists and arts professionals were celebrated in recognition of their exceptional careers .Six of the awards recognize artistic achievements, won by Germaine Arnaktauyok, Lori Blondeau,  Dempsey Bob, Luc Courchesne,  Bonnie Devine and Cheryl L’Hirondelle. One award recognizes excellence in the fine crafts, the Saidye Bronfman Award, won by Lou Lynn and one award recognizes an outstanding contribution to contemporary visual arts, media arts or fine crafts, won by Bryce Kanbara. The winners each receive a medallion produced by the Royal Canadian Mint and a cash prize of $25,000.

On Sunday Oct. 16, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., Cheryl L’Hirondelle is the special guest for this first Family Sunday of the fall. Families are invited to enjoy Cheryl’s engaging stories and teachings of the buffalo hide, the four directions, and more. Family Sunday is included with admission to the AGGV. For more information visit: https://aggv.ca/family-sundays/

The Governor General’s Awards were created in 1999 by the Canada Council for the Arts and the Governor General of Canada to celebrate Canada’s vibrant arts community and recognize remarkable careers in the visual and media arts. Over the last two decades, nearly 200 contemporary artists and arts professionals have been honoured.