09/16/2026
Cape Breton University, together with the Cape Breton Partnership, is now accepting nominations for the 2026 Cape Breton Creative Arts Awards. Nominations for the 2026 awards are open until October 9, 2026.
The 2026 Cape Breton Creative Arts Awards will be presented at the Boardmore Playhouse on October 24, beginning at 7:00pm and will recognize the remarkable contributions of individuals and organizations to the creative arts community across Unama’ki - Cape Breton, while also fostering new opportunities for learning, networking and creative collaboration.
“The Cape Breton Creative Arts Awards are rooted in a rich tradition of effort and excellence,” says Todd Hiscock, CBU Creative Arts Coordinator. The individuals and organizations we celebrate represent the heart of creative industry. They are the founders, builders, educators, volunteers and the future of our community.”
Award Categories
CBU and the Cape Breton Partnership will manage a nomination and jury process focusing on the following categories:
The Father Donald Campbell Founder Award: Given to an individual(s) whose legacy in the creative arts has developed connections to academia and/or the larger community. The recipient has produced a considerable body of work in the creative arts or in support of the same for their community. A natural leader with a proven commitment to the preservation of higher learning, the Father Donald Campbell Founder Award recognizes the work of accomplished individuals possessing foresight, dedication and perseverance in collaborating with diverse stakeholders to maintain the creative arts in our community.
The Elizabeth and Harry Boardmore Builder Award: Given to an individual(s) or group who have initiated creative arts projects/programming in the community. Exemplifying a deep commitment to student engagement in the arts, this award winner has contributed significantly to the development of novel creative arts opportunities that reach a wide, engaged audience. Builders produce new and exciting creative arts deliverables that explore innovation in method, application and content.
The Sons of Membertou Educator Award: Given to an individual(s) or group who have promoted and demonstrated the importance of Creative Arts as an educational tool. This award recognizes effective learning-centred creative arts initiatives that elevate and integrate the arts across diverse cultures and contexts. Curricula development, programming design, innovation in creative arts teaching modalities to produce effective teaching and learning tools, as well as achievement in the application of teaching and learning outcomes, will be considered.
The Barbara Stetter Youth Award: Given to an individual under 19 years of age who is actively participating in an arts organization/group/project. Individuals pursuing post-secondary study in the fine arts, or youth who are developing creative projects sponsored or produced by their community, are eligible for consideration. Youth program leaders/teachers may nominate suitable candidates to the nomination committee for consideration.
The David Sneddon Volunteer Award: Given to an individual(s) or group who have consistently offered their time and expertise to advance a creative arts organization/group/project. Awarded to an active member of a society or group who has donated a significant amount of their time and talent to creative arts projects produced in their community. All aspects of creative contribution may be considered, but the effort must be volunteer-based and leave an enduring impact on the creative arts community.
The Caper Radio CBU Student Award: Given to an individual or group who has impactfully promoted the creative arts on the CBU campus. This award may be conferred upon a group or individual, past or present, for a project(s) which has advanced the awareness of the value of creative arts through excellence in program design, commitment to cultural awareness and diversity, and capacity to actively involve students in the creative arts at CBU.
Award nominees can be anyone involved in Cape Breton Island’s creative arts sector in a capacity that relates to the criteria laid out in the award descriptions. Please note that a person or group may only be nominated for one category.
Nominators must provide their contact information, the nominee’s contact information, the selected category and a letter of nomination that clearly addresses the chosen award criteria. Nomination forms can be found at: www.cbu.ca/community/creative-arts-awards/.
