Mississauga, ON – March 11, 2024
by Lejla Pepeljak
The MARTYS are back!
The Mississauga Arts Awards, aka the MARTYS, have been one of the most distinguished red-carpet events for recognizing established and emerging artists since 1994! The MARTYS has grown not only in the number of awards presented but also into an extravagant award show. This year, on June 26, 2024, expect nothing less! MAC wants to recognize homegrown talent and we need your nominations!
Recognizing that excellence can be achieved at any stage in an artist’s career, Mississauga Arts Council (MAC) celebrates Artistic Excellence Awards in both Established and Emerging Categories. Artist Award Categories include Film/Video Arts, Literary Arts, Music – Group, Music – Instrumental, Music – Solo Vocalist, Performing Arts, Visual Arts – Multimedia Arts, and Visual Arts – Traditional Forms.
Also included in the awards night is the Community Arts Awards which recognizes outstanding contributions by individuals and organizations that have impacted the arts sector in our city. Those awards are the Community Arts Group/Arts Collective of the Year, Festival of the Year Award, Hazel McCallion Volunteer of the Year Award, Laurie Pallett Patron of the Arts Award, and the Lifetime Achievement Award.
If you are a working or emerging professional within the arts and culture community in Mississauga, please nominate yourself for a MARTY Award! Each nomination is considered through a jury selection process, and you never know how far you can go if you don’t try. More information about the nomination process can be found HERE.
From the nomination process to winning, the MARTY award was a huge validation to my writing career. I had just published my first book, which is a turning point in any writer’s journey. I took the leap and submitted a nomination to the award, not knowing if anything would come of it. But what I learned is to always take those leaps! […] Writing can often be a solitary endeavour, so it’s wonderful to celebrate and connect with other writers and artists at the MARTYS celebration.
Manahil Bandukwala, Established Literary Arts Winner – 2023
This opportunity not only highlights and recognizes your outstanding achievements thus far, but also boosts your existing resume. As artists in the city of Mississauga, being appreciated in your field is a must and MAC wants to show its support for your contributions. Giving yourself the chance to win a MARTY award also means more media coverage, stage recognition and opportunities for major networking at one of the most lavish events of the arts season.
Some more honourable winners include Billy Talent, Robert J. Sawyer, Hazel McCallion, Liberty Silver, Gil Moore, Anna Yin and The Dreamboats. You could easily join this prestigious list of winners, just by taking the first step and submitting your self nomination!
The MARTYs are a great and positive celebration all around, but one of my favourite parts about attending was seeing the work of artists I did not know, and being able to connect with them after the show about their projects. It was a great way to celebrate a lot of people who haven’t had a chance to share their passions with a wider audience and to see how impressive all of the work was really solidifies how vital the MARTYs and MAC are.
Cullen McFater, Emerging Film/Video Arts Winner – 2023
Don’t wait, submit your nomination today!
And see you on June 26, 2024 for the 29th Annual Mississauga Arts Awards ceremony!
