Durham Region celebrates its creative community on Friday night at the Robert McLaughlin Gallery.
It’s quickly turning into my favourite fall tradition: the third annual Durham Art of Transition Creative Awards (DATCA) ceremony is coming up this Friday, and you’re invited. This is an open invitation to join us on Nov. 8 at the Robert McLaughlin Gallery for a fabulous evening to celebrate the dynamic individuals and groups who are making a real difference in our community.
You may have heard of the Art of Transition before. It sprang to life in 2009 at a fall symposium led by the Regional Municipality of Durham’s economic development and tourism division. That year, the event featured a stimulating talk by the celebrated author Dr. Richard Florida. In his keynote address, Dr. Florida explored how Durham Region can achieve long-term economic prosperity by embracing and engaging the creative class.
Our community was inspired by this vision. As a result, the Art of Transition has become a forum for diverse creative thinkers, makers and innovators who live and work in our area.
With year-long touch points such as the roving Creative Social events in 2012, this summer’s Ignite 2013 Finale extravaganza, and the recent “Meet ‘n Tweet” gathering, the artistic and creative community have rallied around DATCA to meet new collaborators and share ideas.
The annual fall awards ceremony is a celebration of the year’s work, and a chance to be inspired by the possibility that lies ahead.
An exciting development this year is the launch of an important new award category: Best example of philanthropy in the arts. This new award will be presented to an individual or group demonstrating generosity or leadership in support of the arts in Durham Region. Hopefully this will draw attention to the importance of philanthropy in the arts and will inspire more of it.
Other DATCA award categories include best creative collaboration, best story about Durham Region, best entertainment in Durham Region, best creative innovation and best use of creativity to advance social and environmental sustainability.
The reception will kick off at 6:30 p.m. at the gallery, 72 Queen St., Oshawa. The awards ceremony begins at 7 p.m., and admission is free.
Following the DATCA ceremony, attendees are invited to enjoy entertainment by DJs St. Even and Brendan Lawless, and rising country star Lindsay Broughton as part of the Robert McLaughlin Gallery’s monthly RMG Fridays event.
For more information about RMG Fridays, visit www.rmg.on.ca.
For more information about DATCA, visit: www.artoftransition.ca or call Durham Tourism at 1-800-413-0017.
Congratulations to all nominees. Be part of the conversation, follow @artoftransitionand use the hashtag #DATCA13.