Awards Program
Toronto Outdoor Art Fair’s Awards Program is unprecedented and unique in Canada. The vision behind our awards is to create opportunities for artists to advance their careers, provide them with public recognition, and make a significant financial contribution to their practices.
The generous contributions of our donors, totalling over $45,000+ in cash and in-kind awards, have provided us with the ability to celebrate the extraordinary artists of the Fair.
$1M+
Given to artists over 60+ years
$45,000+
In awards annually
Award Ceremony
Saturday, July 12 2025 at 11:00 AM – Nathan Phillips Square
Jayme Poisson
TOAF64 Award Ceremony Host
We are excited to have Jayme Poisson, Host of CBC’s daily news podcast Front Burner, return to host the Award Ceremony at TOAF64!
Jayme Poisson is the host of daily CBC News podcast FRONT BURNER. Prior to this, she spent eight years as a reporter for The Toronto Star, focusing largely on investigative reporting. Poisson 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; and 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. Poisson’s mercury poisoning investigation also won an award for achievement in human rights reporting from the organization Journalists for Human Rights.
Signature Awards
Best of Art Fair
$6,000 by IG Wealth Management
Murray and Marvelle Koffler Founder’s Award
$6,000 by The Koffler Family Foundation
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
$1,000 Marie Collins Memorial Award & ArtHubs Toronto Inc. Award
ArtHubs Toronto Inc. Award: A residency at Gibraltar Point Center for the Arts and solo exhibition at Youngplace (Value $2,500). This award grants the recipient a self-directed artist residency at Gibraltar Point. The artist also will receive a two week-long solo exhibition at Youngplace in the midst of the Toronto West Queen West neighbourhood.
Jini Stolk Best of Online Art Fair
$2,000 awarded to an outstanding artist in the Online Art Fair, in memory of TOAF’s beloved Board Chair, Jini Stolk.
Painting
Best of Painting Award
$2,000 by Brett Ledger & Patricia Olasker
Honourable Mention Painting
$500 by Valérie Lockerbie & Richard Shimoda
2D Works
Best of 2D Works Award
$2,000 by Extrudex Aluminum
Best of Paper Award
$500 Gift Card by The Japanese Paper Place
3D Works
Best of 3D Works Award
$2,000 by Lindy Green Family Foundation
Photography & Digital Media
Best of Photography & Digital Media Award
$2,000 by Jennifer Longhurst & Lars Bendsen
Honourable Mention Photography & Digital Media
$500 Gift Card by Toronto Image Works
PhotoEd Magazine Award
Three recipients will each receive a one-year subscription to PhotoEd Magazine. One of the recipients will also be selected for a print feature in an upcoming edition of the magazine with a $150 artist fee.
Craft & Design
Best of Craft & Design Award
$2,000 by Robert K. E. Mitchell & Brian H. Wade of Mitchell Studios
Aaron Milrad’s Best of Ceramics Award
$2,000 by Surreal Holdings Inc.
Best of Jewellery Award
$500 by Harry Enchin & Susan Friedrich
Ceramics Excellence Award
$500 Gift Card by Tucker’s Pottery Supplies
Most Innovative Use of Material Award
$750 by Lonsdale Gallery
Spotlight Awards
Emerging Curator Award
A curated group exhibition in partnership with The Indigenous Curatorial Collective, supported by Flavio Belli with $4,500 in curator and artist fees.
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+)
National Emerging Artist Award
$750 by Remarque Art Consulting
Gladstone House Award
The recipient will have the opportunity to showcase their artworks at Gladstone House for one-year with a $1,000 artist fee.
Honourable Mention Student
$500 Gift Card by Toronto School of Art
Student Purchase Award
Value of artwork by House of IDEA
