Photo caption: (L-R): Councillor Alexa Loo, Barbara Tomasic representing Gateway Theatre, Councillor Chak Au, Nicole Gibbs representing award recipient Denise Chambers, Beatriz Martin, Opal Chen, Shelby Page, Jane Fernyhough representing Gateway Theatre and Richmond Arts Coalition, Mayor Malcolm Brodie, Councillor Laura Gillanders and Councillor Bill McNulty.
This year’s recipients reflect the vibrancy of Richmond’s arts scene, as well as the city’s next generation of creative talent.
The City of Richmond and the Richmond Arts Coalition have announced the recipients of the 16th annual Richmond Arts Awards, which recognize artists, cultural leaders, educators, volunteers and change-makers for their achievements and contributions to the local arts community.
This year’s recipients reflect the vibrancy of Richmond’s arts scene, as well as the city’s next generation of creative talent. A selection committee comprised of community members, artists and cultural workers reviewed 67 applications to determine this year’s recipients across five categories. The 2024 Richmond Arts Awards recipients are:
Artistic Innovation and Excellence
Shelby Page
Shelby Page is a multimedia artist who works with textiles, leather and digital illustration. She makes costumes and props through her studio Running With Scissors Creative and teaches art classes through various programs in BC. Her work in Richmond includes living history costuming for heritage sites and programs with Steveston Historical Society.
Arts Education
Beatriz Martin
Through engaging, interactive and creative projects including workshops, classes, community engagement activities and public art, Beatriz (Bea) Martin merges the arts with science and shares her passion for the natural world with students across Richmond. Her unique approach to arts education is the result of a multidisciplinary background as a character animator, theatre improvisor, nature sketcher, certified medical illustrator (CMI), Fulbright Scholar and medical doctor. Highlights from her Richmond work include the Budding Artists nature drawing program, Faces of Richmond exhibition, and collaborative Culture Days exhibitions with students from Richmond elementary schools.
Cultural Leadership
Gateway Theatre
Gateway Theatre is A Stage for Richmond — a place where everyone can learn from each other, see themselves represented, and take pride in the rich cultural landscape that Richmond has to offer. Through artistic offerings, Gateway produces a breadth of stories that tackle the ideas, values and issues that reflect the diverse people of Richmond. Gateway’s education programming connects youth to the performing arts, including classes in acting and musical theatre. The community rentals program allows Richmond to celebrate its achievements and hold public events for the community.
Volunteerism
Denise Chambers
Denise Chambers has lived, worked and volunteered in Richmond for 40 years and is committed to supporting the development of the arts. As a member of the Board of Directors for the Gateway Theatre, she was instrumental in organizing a yearly fundraising event partnering with local visual artists. During the Richmond Children's Arts Festival, Denise was there from the beginning, volunteering in various ways on Family Day and the annual school activities. Denise has also been part of the Richmond Potters’ Club for more than 20 years, volunteering on various committees, assuming executive roles of Secretary, Vice-President and President, and working to increase participation in, and enthusiasm for, pottery and ceramics in our community.
Youth Arts
Opal Chen
A seventh-grader at Daniel Woodward Elementary, Opal Chen discovered her love for drawing at the age of two. Coming from an artistic family, her passion for the environment led her to create a paper maché sturgeon from recycled materials, promoting sustainability and raising awareness about endangered sturgeons. Opal’s artistic endeavors have been showcased in public art installations, including the Lansdowne Station Art Column project in 2020 and a collaborative multi-panel artwork displayed at Richmond Hospital. Passionate about animals and environmental conservation, Opal’s love for wildlife shines through her artwork. Her pieces serve as a powerful tool for conservation advocacy and make a positive impact on her community.
Hosted by Mayor Malcolm Brodie, the public awards ceremony was held at Richmond City Hall Council Chambers on Wednesday, May 8, and featured a keynote speech by Sirish Rao, co-founder of the Indian Summer Festival and current Vancouver Art Gallery Senior Director of Public Engagement & Learning. The event also included performances by Richmond opera singer Cristina Zhang and musicians Conor Stuart and Risa Tonita.
The Richmond Arts Awards are presented in partnership with the Richmond Arts Coalition and sponsored by Richmond News. For more information, visit richmond.ca/ArtsAwards.