Cape Breton University’s creative arts programs have had an immense impact on the Cape Breton community, and continue to do so. As part of CBU’s 50th Anniversary celebrations, six Creative Arts Awards are established to recognize individuals and organizations in Cape Breton’s creative community for their efforts in building a diverse and vibrant creative ecosystem on Unama’ki – Cape Breton. The inaugural awards will be officially presented in 2025 through a nomination and review process conducted by a dedicated committee.
The Father Donald Campbell Founder Award (“The Father Donnie Award”) recognizes an individual(s) whose legacy in the creative arts has developed connections to academia and/or the larger community. The recipient has produced a considerable body of work in the fine arts or in support of the same for their community. A natural leader with a proven commitment to the preservation of higher learning, the Father Donald Campbell Founder Award recognizes the work of accomplished individuals possessing foresight, dedication and perseverance in collaborating with diverse stakeholders to maintain the creative arts in our community.
The Harry and Elizabeth Boardmore Builder Award recognizes an individual who has initiated creative arts projects/programming on campus or in the community. Exemplifying a deep commitment to student engagement in the arts, this award winner has contributed greatly to the development of novel creative arts opportunities designed to reach a wide and engaged audience. Builders produce new and exciting creative arts deliverables exploring innovation in method, application and content.
The Dr. David Sneddon Volunteer Award recognizes an individual(s) or group who has/have consistently offered their time and expertise to advance a creative arts organization/group/project. Awarded to an active member of a society or group who has donated a significant amount of their time and talent to creative arts projects produced in their community. All aspects of creative contribution may be considered, but the effort must be volunteer in nature and leave an enduring impact on the creative arts community.
The Barbara E. Stetter Youth Award recognizes an individual under 19 years of age who is actively participating in an arts organization/group/project. Individuals pursuing post-secondary study in the fine arts, or youth who are developing creative projects sponsored or produced by their community, are eligible for consideration. Youth program leaders/teachers may nominate suitable candidates to the nomination committee for consideration.
The Sons of Membertou Educator Award recognizes an individual(s) or group who has/have promoted and demonstrated the importance of Creative Arts as an educational tool. This award recognizes effective learning-centered creative arts initiatives designed to elevate and integrate the arts in diverse cultures and contexts. Curricula development, programming design, innovation in creative arts teaching modalities to produce effective teaching and learning tools, as well as achievement in the application of teaching and learning outcomes will be considered.
The CAPR Radio CBU Student Award recognizes an individual or group who has/have impactfully promoted the creative arts on the CBU campus. This award may be conferred upon a group or individual for a limited project which has advanced the awareness of the value of creative arts in strong community connections on and off the CBU campus through excellence in program design, commitment to cultural awareness and diversity, and capacity to actively involve students in the creative arts.