Regular sessional instructor, Anne-Marie Donovan has been recognized for her long-time contribution to the community of Kitchener-Waterloo. Last Wednesday, (June 18th), Anne-Marie received a Special Jury award at the 26th Annual KW Arts Awards which took place at the Centre in the Square. Nominees are assessed by an arms-length jury based on the following criteria:
- Artistic excellence
- Sustained development over a minimum of 3 years within Waterloo Region
- Impact on the Waterloo Region community
Anne-Marie's involvement in the community has been quite extensive. She has run many arts organizations including NUMUS and Inter-Arts Matrix. She is the current Chair for the Open Ears Festival and has worked with many of the region's arts organizations, including the KW Symphony and MT Space. She has taught for the Department of Drama and Speech Communication for 13 years and has directed 4 of our mainstage performances including The Rocky Horror Show, Midsummer Night's Dream and An Experiment with an Air Pump.
As Anne-Marie was not in attendance, the prize was accepted by a friend on her behalf. Anne-Marie stated:
It is gratifying to be recognized for my work in the arts and for engagement in this community of which I have been part of since 1987.
This was Anne-Marie's 5th nomination for a "Denney", the name affectionately given to the golden statue that was designed by Alan Denney. She has not yet received her "Denney" but her husband has two, one from being part of the Penderecki Quartet, so she knows at least what it looks like. She now joins the ranks of 250 other artists who have been recognized, including fellow faculty member, Bill Chesney who won the Performing Arts Award in 2010.
The Arts Awards ceremony was created in 1988 as a way to celebrate what the arts contribute to our community and how it adds vitality to our spirits, broadens our horizons and defines our culture. Arts Awards Waterloo Region is generously supported by the cities of Kitchener and Waterloo – as well as local businesses, organizations and individuals who recognize the importance of the arts in our community and culture.