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TheQAC Arts Recognition Awards
Above: Chris Malette, MP Bay of Quinte, Janet Jarrell, QAC, Jennifer E. Brant, Award Recipient, Tyler Allsopp, MPP Bay of Quinte, Neil Ellis, Mayor of Belleville. Photo: Titus Tolentino
QAC proudly celebrated the 31st annual Arts Recognition Awards Luncheon honouring six outstanding members of the Quinte arts community. Emceed by Sean Sroka with live music by Tony Silvestri, the luncheon gathered community leaders, elected officials, artists, and supporters to recognize the profound impact of arts and culture in the Quinte region.
“A dancer, a thespian, a visionary artist, a brilliant songwriter, a world-travelling photographer, and a master of community projects all here to be celebrated for their remarkable contributions. This year’s honourees have made a profound impact on arts and culture in our community,” said Janet Jarrell, QAC Executive Director. “This annual recognition is about more than any one individual or organization—it’s a celebration of the Quinte community itself, uplifted by these extraordinary people who are trailblazing a path toward an even more vibrant future.”
The celebration highlighted six remarkable recipients: Luisé Cisneros, Emebet Belete, Phil Bowerman, Lola Reid-Allin, Kristina McIntosh, and Jennifer E. Brant. Each was recognized for their contributions to the arts, cultural leadership, and their lasting impact on the creative vibrancy of the Quinte region.
Rick Moulton, Chair of the QAC Board of Directors, opened the ceremony by emphasizing the council’s long-standing commitment to fostering creativity and inclusion. “Arts and culture are more than performances and exhibitions,” Moulton said. “They are the core of our communities, fostering belonging, resilience, and pride. Today, we celebrate not just six exceptional individuals, but the collective power of the arts to transform lives.”
Local leaders echoed this sentiment. Neil Ellis, Mayor of Belleville, and Tyler Allsopp, MPP for Bay of Quinte, reflected on the economic and cultural benefits of a thriving arts sector. “The arts community in Bay of Quinte contributes much to our region through expressive, thought-provoking work that can entertain, challenge and inspire audiences, fostering community and driving economic activity,” said Allsopp. “Congratulations to the six Arts Recognition Awards winners on today’s recognition of their leadership, their vision, and their action.”
National and provincial voices also weighed in. Hon. Stan Cho, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Gaming, and Chris Malette, MP for Bay of Quinte, praised the resilience and innovation of artists in the region. Missy Knott, Board Director with the Ontario Arts Council (OAC), spoke passionately about the OAC’s Arts Across Ontario report, underscoring how the arts not only enrich lives but also strengthen local economies.
The six honourees represented a powerful cross-section of Quinte’s artistic talent and leadership: Cisneros’ installations interrogating identity and queerness, Belete’s community-bridging crochet public art, Bowerman’s five decades of devotion to theatre, Reid-Allin’s global photography and storytelling, McIntosh’s life-changing dance program for people with Parkinson’s, and Brant’s cultural advocacy and Mohawk language revitalization.
As Jarrell noted, the event was not only about recognizing individual achievement but also about sustaining the future of the arts. The luncheon served as the QAC’s annual fundraiser, supporting programs that empower artists, cultivate creativity, and build an inclusive cultural community across the Quinte region.
Photography by Titus Tolentino
