Nomination
Process
Image: Ann-Marie Kerr, The Best Show
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25th Anniversary Prize
To celebrate a twenty-five-year legacy of fostering excellence and innovation in Canadian theatre, the Siminovitch Theatre Foundation is challenging its conventions by broadening who can be nominated for the Siminovitch Prize in 2025.
This year, we are pausing our traditional three-year rotating cycle of honouring directors, playwrights, and designers to welcome nominations for theatre creators from these three disciplines, as well as from theatre creators whose work does not fall strictly into the three established Siminovitch Prize categories. This expansion is for theatre creators and does not include producers, educators, and other technical, administrative or support roles.
To demonstrate our commitment to encouraging exceptional theatre artists, the three shortlisted artists will receive $10,000, doubling previous prize amounts, thanks to a renewed commitment from Power Corporation of Canada.
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Eligibility
Peers are invited to nominate an exceptional artist, or group/ensemble, who has developed a marked personal style or approach to their art and has created a high-quality body of work that has made a remarkable contribution and enriched theatre in Canada. This enrichment may occur, for example, through the development of new practices and methods, the rigorous pursuit of new questions and voices, the nurturing of rich collaborations, or any other process that serves the artist’s work.
The Siminovitch Prize is not a lifetime achievement award – it is awarded to a mid-career exceptional artist or group whose practice continues to grow, develop, and expand. Nominees must have at least ten years of experience, and no more than thirty years of experience, as professional artists in the discipline for which they are being nominated.
- Nominees will have developed a marked personal style or artistic approach to their craft, vision, techniques, interests and/or collaborations.
- Eligible artists must be a citizen or permanent resident of Canada, and actively working in theatre in Canada.
- Self-nominations will not be considered. Completed nominations must be submitted electronically using the online form.
- Current members of the Board or staff of the Siminovitch Theatre Foundation, and currently contracted workers including the Jury Chair and members of the Jury, are ineligible for Siminovitch Prize in the year in which they serve, nor may they nominate or write a letter of support for a nominee.
We seek nominations for theatre artists breaking new ground whose outstanding work makes a significant impact in their communities. Any questions regarding the eligibility of nominees are decided at the jury’s sole discretion.
Selection Process
A national jury of distinguished members of the theatre community is chosen annually to select the finalists and winner. The Jury Chair leads the selection of the jury and presides over deliberations.
The jury will consider the following aspects of the artist’s work:
- Orignality
- Sense of evolution
- Growing maturity
- Continuing experimentation
- Impact upon audiences, their community, emerging artists, colleagues, and the art form.
Key Dates
Nominations Open – April 2, 2025
Nominations Close – May 22, 2025
Finalists Announced – October 2025
Siminovitch Prize Announced – December 1, 2025
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Submit a Nomination
Nominations for the 2025 Siminovitch Prize are currently closed. The online nomination form will open again in 2026.
Image: Linda Brunelle, costume creation
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Submit a Nomination
Nominations for the 2025 Siminovitch Prize are now open. Click the button below to access the nomination form. If you have any
questions, please email info@siminovitchprize.com.
Image: Linda Brunelle, costume creation
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The Artist's Eye
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