One of Vancouver’s most beloved theatre performers will receive a lifetime-achievement award from Mayor Gregor Robertson. Joy Coghill, an actor and former artistic director of the Vancouver Playhouse, is among 21 B.C. artists receiving 2015 Mayor’s Arts Awards at the Roundhouse Community Arts and Recreation Centre next Thursday (November 12).

In 1953, Coghill founded Holiday Theatre, which was the first professional theatre group in Canada for children. She was also instrumental in the creation of Western Gold Theatre Company, which was the first professional theatre group for seniors. In addition, Coghill is honorary president of PAL Vancouver, an affordable-housing and theatre project that she cofounded in 2006.

Recipients of the 2015 Mayor’s Arts Awards are chosen through peer review. The winners receive a $3,000 cash prize and are tasked with naming an emerging artist in their field, who also receives $3,000.

In theatre, the winner is Margo Kane, artistic managing director of Full Circle: First Nations Performance, which puts on the annual Talking Stick Festival. She selected Tai Amy Grauman as her emerging theatre artist.

Songwriter and performer Veda Hille is the winner in music and chose Adrian Teacher as her emerging artist. Kidd Pivot founder Crystal Pite has been named winner of the Mayor’s Arts Award in dance. Pite chose choreographer and performer Lesley Telford as her emerging artist.

First Nations multidisciplinary artist Brian Jungen is being honoured in visual arts. He named Ron Tran as his emerging artist in this field.

In public art, Liz Magor is the winner. Her work includes LightShed at Coal Harbour and Ninth Column in False Creek. She selected Devon Knowles as her emerging artist.

Singer and musical director Renae Morriseau is the recipient of the Mayor’s Arts Award for community-engaged art. She chose Lorelei Williams, who’s raised public awareness of missing and murdered women, as her emerging artist. Williams created the Butterflies in Spirit dance troupe to further that objective.

In craft and design, a cofounder of the West Coast Clay Sculptors’ Association, Debra Sloan, is the winner. She named Sam Knopp as her emerging artist. Author and poet Kate Braid is being honoured in literary arts. She chose Rob Taylor as her emerging artist.

Multimedia artist Cindy Mochizuki is winner of the Mayor’s Arts Award in film and new media. She selected Amanda Strong as her emerging artist. In culinary arts, Les Amis du Fromage cofounder Alice Spurrell is the winner. She chose Jennifer Peters as her emerging artist.

Other awards but no cash have gone to several supporters of the arts. Former theatre owner Leonard Schein wins for philanthropy; Jane Westheuser is the arts-board member of the year; Audrey Zaharichuk is honoured for volunteerism; and Goldcorp is named in the business-support category.

The Mayor’s Arts Awards were created in 2006 to recognize leading artists’ contributions to the city.