The Lieutenant Governor of Alberta Arts Awards Foundation was established in 2003 to celebrate excellence in the arts and to underline the importance of the arts in Alberta. The Foundation administers two programs of awards to Alberta artists.
The Distinguished Artist Awards program gives up to three awards of $30,000 each in recognition of outstanding achievement in the arts by Albertans or significant contribution to the arts in Alberta.
The Emerging Artist Awards program gives up to ten awards of $10,000 each to support and encourage promising artists early in their careers, who have created a modest body of work, and are recognized by established artists in the same field of artistic endeavour as having potential to achieve excellence in their discipline.
The Awards Programs of the Foundation were established under the founding patronage of The Late Honourable Dr. Lois E. Hole, C.M., A.O.E., Lieutenant Governor of Alberta from 2000 – 2005, and continue under the patronage of Her Honour the Honourable Lois E. Mitchell, C.M., A.O.E., LLD, Lieutenant Governor of Alberta.
Incorporated as a Company under Part 9 of the Companies Act in Alberta Registered with Canada Revenue Agency as a charitable organization.
To receive and maintain funds for the purposes of making awards to persons for outstanding achievements and accomplishments in the Arts in Alberta.
To recognize individuals for outstanding achievement in the Arts.
To recognize individuals for significant contribution to the Arts.
To promote public awareness of, and support for, the Arts in the Province of Alberta.
To promote and encourage the development of artistic excellence in the Province of Alberta and elsewhere.
The Lieutenant Governor of Alberta Arts Awards Programs are funded by proceeds from endowment funds set up for this purpose with the Edmonton Community Foundation and The Calgary Foundation. The endowment funds total more than $3 million.
This sum includes more than $1.1 million raised privately within the province by way of gifts from individual and corporations who value the arts and the contribution they make to life in Alberta; grants and commitments from the Government of Alberta totalling $1 million; and a $1 million gift from the Government of Canada.
The funds are held in perpetuity and managed by the Edmonton Community Foundation and The Calgary Foundation. Earnings are paid out to the Lieutenant Governor of Alberta Arts Awards Foundation to underwrite the cash awards and to pay for the administration of the Awards programs.