The Mayor’s Awards for the Arts committee is now accepting nominations for the annual Arts Awards that recognize and celebrate artists and arts supporters in Kamloops and the Thompson-Nicola Regional District (TNRD).
For 2018, awards will be given for each of the following three categories: Artist of the Year – Visual Arts, Emerging Artist, and Business in Support of the Arts.
Artist of the Year – Visual Arts recognizes an outstanding visual artist. The second award, Emerging Artist, recognizes an emerging artist/musician/performer (ages 18-35) working in the visual and/or performing arts for their current accomplishments and future potential. The third award, Business in Support of the Arts, recognizes outstanding business leaders and/or businesses/corporations that have made a significant contribution supporting local arts and culture through donations, sponsorships, volunteer services, or the support of an artist.
The nomination forms can be found on the Mayor’s Gala for the Arts website at www.mayorsgalaforthearts.com. The deadline for submissions is Friday, October 6, 2017, at 5:00 pm.
For over a decade, the Kamloops Art Gallery, Kamloops Symphony and Western Canada Theatre have partnered with the City of Kamloops for the Mayor’s Awards for the Arts to celebrate and inspire artists and those who support them within our region. The awards provide an opportunity to recognize the artistic and cultural achievements by artists and residents of the Kamloops and TNRD, to applaud their contributions, cultivate greater visibility and appreciation of the value of the arts, encourage excellence and build relationships within the arts community.
We look forward to your nomination.

The 19th Annual Kamloops Wine Festival has come to a close, but planning is already underway for the 20th Annual in 2018. Save the dates - May 5 to 12, 2018. The festival offers an array of wine-related activities and concludes with a grand wine sampling party on Saturday, May 12 at the Coast Kamloops Hotel and Conference Centre. Stay tuned for details. Questions? Contact event organizer Judy Basso.

For a look at the 2017 photo gallery - click here.