Sara Sniderhan is the recipient of this year’s Robert G. Kemp Arts Award.
The Blue Mountain Foundation for the Arts has awarded $5,000 to Sniderhan’s portrait project proposal.
The project will result in a book containing 10 portraits of life-long area residents and their stories.
Sniderhan will work with nine other artists and community partners to create the portraits and gather the stories.
Sniderhan recently moved to the area from Toronto. Her work has been shown across Canada and the United States and one of her paintings is included in the National Portrait Gallery of Canada’s permanent collection. She recently curated the Inspired show for Creemore Festival of the Arts.
“It’s an exciting prospect to jump right in and do work in the community,” said Sniderhan who is fairly new to the Creemore area. “I respect the work Robert Kemp did, how integrated he was in the community. I find it very inspiring and it’s nice that the award is in his name.”
Robert was a celebrated local artist who did portraits of many of the long-time residents of Clearview, specifically Duntroon.
When he died 25 years ago, said his widow Barb Kemp, an award was created in his honour for Georgian Triangle artists.
Sniderhan’s portrait project was chosen out of six proposals because of its scope and community impact, said Barb.
“It has to benefit the community,” she said. “It is given to Sara as the curator to produce a book and a show. It’s a big undertaking for her but she has quite a few partners.”
Sniderhan is working with Purple Hills Arts and Heritage Society, The Creemore Echo and Clearview Community Radio.
Money was initially raised for the award through the sale of a book of Robert’s work published by the foundation, in addition to an auction of some of his paintings and prints.
Two years ago, an anonymous donor added to the fund, allowing for the award to be increased to $5,000 and sustaining it well into the next decade.
Over the years, 22 local artists have received the award.
“It’s phenomenal to see what has happened to some of these people,” said Barb. “Some of the dreams and projects didn’t quite work but on the whole it’s just been amazing.”
It will be launched next October during the Creemore Festival of the Arts and Small Halls Festival.