Last night (November 16), Vancouver’s arts community honoured and celebrated arts and culture at the Mayor’s Art Awards.

The evening was hosted by Bill Richardson who warmed the crowd with funny anecdotes and genuine passion for the arts. Vancouver’s mayor Gregor Robertson voiced the city’s commitment to arts funding and the positive impact those involved with the arts have on the city.

Eleven established artists were chosen by a jury of peers and each of them chose and emerging artist to recognize. Both honouree and emerging artist were awarded $2,500 from the City of Vancouver.

The honourees and emerging artist were:

Craft and Design

• Paul Mathieu
• Alwyn O’Brien

Culinary Arts

• Hidekazu Tojo
• Hiroki Watanabe

Film and New Media

• Aerlyn Weissman
• Mangla Bansal

Literary Arts

• Brian Kaufman
• Susan Steudel

Visual Arts

• Marian Penner Bancroft
• Elizabeth Zvonar

Public Art

• Alan Storey
• Erica Stocking

Community Arts

• Terry Hunter & Savannah Walling
• Rosemary Georgeson

Music

• Colin Miles
• Jordan Nobles

Dance

• Lola MacLaughlin
• James Gnam & Natalie LeFebvre Gnam

Theatre

• Kim Collier
• Meg Roe