Awards Program
Toronto Outdoor Art Fair’s Awards Program is the largest of its kind in Canada, thanks to the generous contributions of our donors, giving artists at every stage real opportunities for recognition, visibility, and meaningful support.
This year, TOAF is turning 65—and we’re celebrating with $65,000 in cash and in-kind awards this July.
In 1961, Ken Danby received TOAF’s very first Best of Exhibition Award of $1,000 ($10,000+ today). That bold gesture helped launch the career of an artist who would go on to become a household name in Canadian art. Sixty-five years later, we’re honouring that legacy with something just as bold.
Two of the Fair’s most celebrated awards—the Best of Art Fair supported by IG Wealth Management, and the Murray and Marvelle Koffler Founder’s Award, supported by The Koffler Foundation—will each award $10,000 to their recipients at the 2026 Fair.
$1.1M+
Given to artists over 60+ years
$65,000
In awards in 2026
Award Ceremony
Attend the Awards Ceremony on Saturday, July 11 at 11:00 AM at the Main Stage in Nathan Phillips Square as we celebrate the outstanding artists and award recipients of TOAF65.
Jayme Poisson
TOAF65 Award Ceremony Host
Jayme Poisson is the host of Front Burner. She spent years as an investigative reporter for The Toronto Star. Jayme has been nominated for three national newspaper awards. She was part of a team that won the Governor General’s Michener award for reporting on former Toronto mayor Rob Ford. She has won the Sidney Hillman award for public service journalism twice, for investigations into sexual assault on university campuses and ongoing mercury poisoning in Grassy Narrows First Nation. The mercury poisoning investigation also won an award for achievement in human rights reporting from the organization Journalists for Human Rights.
2026 Signature Awards
Best of Art Fair
$10,000 by IG Wealth Management
Murray and Marvelle Koffler Founder’s Award
$10,000 by The Koffler Foundation
Ken Danby Award for Excellence in Realism Painting
$6,500 by The Rudolph P. Bratty Family Foundation
Jini Stolk Best of Online Art Fair
$2,650 awarded to an outstanding artist in the Online Art Fair, in memory of TOAF’s beloved Board Chair, Jini Stolk.
Mayor’s Purchase Award
Value of artwork by the City of Toronto. This award brings the artists’ artwork into the City of Toronto’s significant art collection
Best of Student Award
$1,650 Marie Collins Memorial Award & ArtHubs Toronto Inc. Award (Value $2,500)
ArtHubs Toronto Inc. Award: A residency at Gibraltar Point Centre for the Arts and solo exhibition at Youngplace.
This award grants the recipient a self-directed artist residency at Gibraltar Point. Since opening in 1999, Gibraltar Point’s secluded retreat centre, artist lodge and long term artists work studios (surrounded by 46 acres of park land and its own beachfront) has provided thousands of local and international artists-in-residence an idyllic place to focus on their practice. The artist also will receive a two week-long solo exhibition at Youngplace in the midst of the Toronto West Queen West neighbourhood. Through this exhibition, the artist can showcase their work to a broader audience adding an incredible achievement to their curriculum vitae.
2026 Signature Awards
Painting
Best of Painting Award
$2,650 by Brett Ledger & Patricia Olasker
Honourable Mention Painting Award
$650 by Valérie Lockerbie & Richard Shimoda
2D Works
Best of 2D Works Award
$2,650 by Extrudex Aluminum
Best of Paper Award
$650 Gift Card by The Japanese Paper Place
3D Works
Best of 3D Works Award
$2,650 by Al Green in Memoriam
Photography & Digital Media
Best of Photography & Digital Media Award
$2,650 by Jennifer Longhurst & Lars Bendsen
Honourable Mention Photography & Digital Media
$650 Gift Card by Total Image Works
PhotoEd Magazine Award
Three recipients will receive a subscription to PhotoEd Magazine. One recipient will receive a Print Feature and $165 artist fee.
Craft & Design
Best of Craft & Design Award
$2,650 by Robert K. E. Mitchell & Brian H. Wade of Mitchell Studios
Aaron Milrad’s Best of Ceramics Award
$2,650 by Surreal Holdings Inc.
Best of Textiles Award
$1,650 by Chung-Im Kim & Steven Heinemann
Best of Jewellery Award
$650 by Harry Enchin & Susan Friedrich
Ceramics Excellence Award
$650 Gift Card by The Pottery Supply House
Ceramics Excellence Award
$650 Gift Card by Tucker’s Pottery Supplies
2026 Spotlight Awards
United Contemporary Award at TOAF
The recipient will have the opportunity to have a solo exhibition in United Contemporary’s Project Space for 4-6 weeks with mentorship provided, offering professional guidance on working with commercial galleries and developing a professional practice (Value $3,000)
Akin Space Award
$1,000 credit applicable toward any Akin Studio rental, Remote Gallery rental, or a combination of both, supported by Akin Studios & Programming.
The Gallery 1065 Award for Distinguished Achievement in the Advancement of Joy & Whimsy
$1,650 by Gallery 1065
The Gallery 1065 Award for Distinguished Achievement in the Advancement of Joy and Whimsy recognizes an artist whose work elevates the spirit of the fair — through surprise, wit, joy, or bold creative play. The award celebrates art that interrupts the everyday and reminds us why we gather in public to experience it together.
Akrylic Award
$1,650 by Akrylic
Gladstone House Award
The recipient will have the opportunity to showcase their artworks at Gladstone House for one-year with a $1,125 artist fee.
Honourable Mention Student
$550 Gift Card by Toronto School of Art
Student Purchase Award
Value of artwork by House of IDEA
