The shortlist for the 2021 Saskatchewan Arts Awards has been released, with two nominees coming from Moose Jaw.
Sarah Simison, best known as the executive director of the Saskatchewan Festival of Words, has been shortlisted as a nominee for the Individual Leadership Award, and the Moose Jaw Museum & Art Gallery (MJMAG) has been named one of three nominees for the organization Leadership Award.
Both Simison and the MJMAG are being recognized for their commitment to the advancement of the arts scene across the province, including the presentation and promotion of art through programming and innovation. Both awards are presented with a cash prize of $6,000 to the winner.
“I was completely shocked and honoured,” said Simison, of her nomination. “I’ve worked very hard, not just with the Festival of Words but in the non-profit sector of our town and province, and across the country, and I’m really passionate about what I do, so it feels pretty special to be honoured this way.”
Simison is one of three nominees, joined by Saskatchewan Arts Alliance director Marnie Gladwell and Mackenzie Art Gallery curator Timothy Long, and she expressed her appreciation at being named alongside them.
Her nomination was selected based on her extensive work with the Festival as well as the other non-profit work she is involved in, including launching the Writers in Schools program to bring professional writers into rural classrooms to interact with students.
Simison is also being lauded for her dedication to create inclusive, anti-oppressive spaces for artists, and for continually increasing the partnerships between community members and organizations in the arts scene. She credits part of her success to the many individuals she works with who have helped her along the way.
“It feels weird, taking credit for something when I feel like so many people have contributed to my leadership style and have helped me be a better leader all the time,” said Simison. “I’ve just been really lucky to have those opportunities and learn from such great people.”
The MJMAG as an organization has been shortlisted next to the On The Boards Staging Company in Saskatoon and Sage Hill Writing, in its leadership category.
The gallery’s nomination is based on its commitment to diversity and inclusion, and collaborative partnerships with other organizations that have strengthened the province’s art ecosystem. The MJMAG was one of the founders of the Small Cities Art Museums collective, a network of galleries that share curation and exhibits with each other.
“It was a big surprise [to be nominated] and I think we all feel really humbled and honoured by the recognition. It feels good that people are recognizing the work we’re doing and the impact it's making on the communities that we serve,” said curator Jennifer McRorie, on behalf of the entire team at the MJMAG. “It's really heartwarming to hear that we’re seen as a leader in the Saskatchewan arts community.”
McRorie said that the nomination follows a difficult year for the MJMAG, as the pandemic challenged the gallery to be even more flexible and innovative with programming and virtual events.
“It’s nice to get a little bit of kudos because I’m really proud of what the staff has accomplished [and] everybody’s stepped up and learned new technologies and really been creative about how we’ve approached things,” said McRorie.
She added that to be highlighted specifically for exemplary leadership is a great reward for the gallery’s ongoing commitment to the Moose Jaw arts community, and a testament to the work from both past and present MJMAG staff.
“This nomination isn’t just for the current organization,” said McRorie. “This extends to all of the people who have contributed to building the organization into what it is currently, [and] so we’re sharing it with them, with everyone.”
This is the first time that both Simison and the MJMAG have been nominated for Saskatchewan Arts Awards, which will be presented on May 10 in Regina.
For a full list of nominees for the awards, visit sk-arts.ca.
