The Richmond Arts Awards program recognizes the achievements in and contributions to the arts by Richmond residents, artists, educators, organizers and business leaders. All artistic disciplines are eligible: culinary, literary, performing and visual arts, as well as craft, environmental arts, new media and social practice. The Richmond Arts Awards are presented through a partnership between the City of Richmond and the Richmond Arts Coalition, and are supported by the Richmond News. The 2024 Arts Awards Recipients are as follows:
Recipient: Beatriz Martin
Through engaging, interactive and creative projects including workshops, classes, community engagement activities and public art, Beatriz (Bea) Martin merges the arts with science and shares her passion for the natural world with her students across Richmond. Her unique approach to arts education is the result of a multidisciplinary background as a character animator, theatre improviser, nature sketcher, certified medical illustrator (CMI), Fulbright Scholar and medical doctor. With genuine curiosity and enthusiasm, Bea thrives supporting the creativity, curiosity and artistic development of people of all ages. Highlights from her Richmond work include the Budding Artists nature drawing program, Faces of Richmond exhibition, and collaborative Culture Days exhibitions with students from Richmond elementary schools.
Recipient: Gateway Theatre
Gateway Theatre is A Stage for Richmond — a place where everyone can learn from each other, see themselves represented, and take pride in the rich cultural landscape that Richmond has to offer. Through artistic offerings, Gateway produces a breadth of stories that tackle the ideas, values, and issues that reflect the diverse people of this city. Gateway’s education programming connects youth to the performing arts, including classes in acting and musical theatre. The community rentals program allows Richmond to celebrate its achievements and hold public events for the community. Gateway Theatre is proud to be bringing Richmond together through the performing arts.
Recipient: Denise Chambers
Denise has lived, worked and volunteered in Richmond for 40 years and is committed to supporting the development of the arts. Although she has volunteered for many committees and events, three stand out as meaningful. As a member of the Board of Directors for the Gateway Theatre, she was instrumental in organizing a yearly fundraising event partnering with local visual artists. During the Richmond Children’s Arts Festival, Denise was there from the beginning, volunteering in various ways on Family Day and the annual school activities. Denise has also been part of the Richmond Potters’ Club for more than 20 years, volunteering on various committees, assuming executive roles of Secretary, Vice-President, and President, and working to increase participation in, and enthusiasm for, pottery and ceramics in our community.
Recipient: Opal Chen
A seventh-grader at Daniel Woodward Elementary, Opal Chen discovered her love for drawing at the age of two. Coming from an artistic family, her passion for the environment led her to create a paper mâché sturgeon from recycled materials, promoting sustainability and raising awareness about endangered sturgeons. Opal’s artistic endeavors have been showcased in public art installations, including the Lansdowne Station Art Column project in 2020 and a collaborative multi-panel artwork displayed at Richmond Hospital. Passionate about animals and environmental conservation, Opal’s love for wildlife shines through her artwork. Her pieces serve as a powerful tool for conservation advocacy and make a positive impact on her community.
Recipient: Shelby Page
Shelby Page is a multimedia artist from New Westminster who works with textiles, leather, and digital illustration. She makes costumes and props through her studio Running With Scissors Creative and teaches art classes through various programs in BC. Her work in Richmond includes living history costuming for heritage sites and programs with Steveston Historical Society. She has a BA and MFA in Theatre Production and Design, and she credits her theatre background with her love of working collaboratively with other artists on large and spectacular projects.
The Richmond Arts Awards are presented through a partnership between the City of Richmond and Richmond Arts Coalition, and are sponsored by the Richmond News.
We acknowledge the financial support of the Province of British Columbia