February 26, 2007

PEGGY BAKER WINS PREMIER’S AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN THE ARTS
First Premier’s Award Honours Internationally Acclaimed Dancer

TORONTO — The first Premier’s Award for Excellence in the Arts has been won by Toronto dancer Peggy Baker, Ontario Minister of Culture Caroline Di Cocco and Deputy Premier George Smitherman announced at a celebration at the Royal Ontario Museum today.

"Ontario's artists give expression to our dreams and help us to connect with one another," said Premier McGuinty. "It's important to recognize outstanding artists like Peggy Baker for all the ways they enrich our lives."

Baker is a renowned performer, choreographer, teacher, and mentor who began her career in Toronto in the 1970s. In the 1980s, and 90s she performed with the world’s leading dancers, including Lar Lubovitch and Mikhail Baryshnikov.  She was appointed the first-ever artist-in-residence at the National Ballet School in 1992. She teaches ballet and modern dance throughout Canada and the United States at institutions that include The Julliard School, York University and the Toronto Dance Theatre. She continues to perform and teach under her company, Peggy Baker Dance Projects.

Baker said, “For more than a decade the value of art, and the place of the artist in our society has been systematically discredited and relegated to the fringes by all levels of government in Canada. . . . I applaud Premier McGuinty and Minister Di Cocco for their boldness in establishing a prize that acknowledges the breadth and excellence of Ontario’s cultural sector and celebrates the arts as an essential and integral aspect of our society. I am humbled and deeply honoured to have my contributions recognized in this context.”

The recipient of the Premier’s Award is asked to identify an emerging artist in the same field to receive an award. Baker selected Singapore-born Yvonne Ng, who came to Canada in 1983 and studied dance at York University, as this year’s up-and-coming artist. Ng is an outstanding Toronto dancer, producer, choreographer, teacher and artistic director.

“The Premier’s Award provides a showcase for our most talented people,” said Di Cocco. “This is a new honour that will help to ensure the vibrancy of our culture sector and highlight the achievements of our greatest artists.”

The Ontario Arts Council (OAC), which administers the award on behalf of the Ontario government, received more than 190 nominations for this year’s Premier’s Award. The six finalists were Baker, playwright Judith Thompson of Toronto, De-ba-jeh-mu-jig Theatre Group of Wikwemikong (Manitoulin Island), artist Juan Geuer of Almonte, Ottawa Chamber Music Society and Le Théâtre du Nouvel-Ontario of Sudbury.

A panel of jurors selected Baker from the six finalists for the award, which recognizes outstanding achievement and contribution to arts and culture in Ontario. The winner receives $35,000 and a cash award of $15,000 goes to the emerging artist. Each finalist receives $2,000.

The culture sector supports more than 250,000 jobs and generates $17.9 billion for Ontario’s economy.

Nomination forms for the 2007 Premier’s Award will be available on the OAC website
May 1st 2007 (http://www.arts.on.ca).

Photos and a video of Baker are available on request from the Communications Branch of the Ministry of Culture.

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Contacts:
Mark Thompson, Minister’s Office, (416) 325-4071
Guy Lepage, Communications Branch, (416) 314-3497

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