Two Nanaimo residents are being celebrated for their local excellence in arts and culture.
In a press release issued on March 15, the City of Nanaimo announced the recipients of this year’s Culture and Heritage Awards, which has been an annual event for quarter of a century.
“On behalf of city council, I heartily congratulate Joel Good and Margot Holmes, our 2023 Culture Award recipients,” said Nanaimo Mayor Leonard Krog in the release. “Their talent, imagination, long hours of dedicated effort and leadership contribute to the beauty and richness of our arts and culture community and benefit all of us.”
Snuneymuxw First Nation artist Joel Good received the Excellence in Culture award for his achievements in visual arts, noted the release. Good is well-known for several local public art installations, and his designs are informed by Snuneymuxw oral history, as well as research into traditional Coast Salish art forms.
The artist’s work has also been featured on garments created by Ay Lelum – The Good House of Design, run by his sisters Aunalee Boyd-Good and Sophia Seward Good, and have been seen on Vancouver Fashion Week and New York Fashion Week runways.
For her longtime career as the chief executive officer of the Vancouver Island Symphony, Margot Holmes received the Honour in Culture award. She has promoted Canadian culture and championed the performing arts community for more than three decades, noted the release.
In 2015, she spearheaded the creation of Festival Nanaimo, and kept Nanaimo culture alive during the pandemic by launching symphony summer pop-up concerts, the Nanaimo Big Band Festival, the Chapter series of four multi-genre events at the Port Theatre and the Music from Edges of Canada series.
This year, there will be an in-person celebration of award recipients as a free community event at the Port Theatre on April 25 at 7 p.m.
READ MORE: City of Nanaimo reveals this year’s Culture and Heritage Award recipients
mandy.moraes@nanaimobulletin.com
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