Announcing the longlisted artists and curators for the 2026 Mid-Career Awards!

June 15, 2026

The Hnatyshyn Foundation is thrilled to announce the 28 Canadian artists and curators who have been longlisted for the 2026 Mid-Career Awards for Excellence in Visual Arts and Curatorial Excellence!

The Hnatyshyn Foundation Mid-Career Award for Curatorial Excellence: LONG LIST

From top left to bottom right: Melissa Bennett (courtesy of Melissa Bennett) | Pamela Edmonds (photo: Steven Farmer, courtesy of Pamela Edmonds) | Mireille Eagan (photo: LV Imagery, courtesy of Mireille Eagan) | Mona Filip (photo: Victoria Cimolini, courtesy of Mona Filip) | Diane Gistal (photo: Orphée Okito, courtesy of Diane Gistal) | Sophie Hackett (photo: Luis Mora, courtesy of Sophie Jackett) | Ji-Yoon Han (courtesy of Ji-Yoon Han)| Liz Ikiriko (photo: Clay Stang, courtesy of Liz Ikiriko) | Camille Larivée (photo: Katya Konioukhova, courtesy of MAI and Camille Larivée) | Crystal Mowry (photo: Carey Shaw, courtesy of Crystal Mowry)| Taqralik Partridge (courtesy of Taqralik Partridge) | Kirsty Robertson (courtesy of Kirsty Robertson) | Cheryl Sim (photo: Guillaume Simoneau, courtesy of Cheryl Sim)| Toleen Touq (photo: Hussam Hassan, courtesy of Toleen Touq).

The Hnatyshyn Foundation Mid-Career Award for Excellence in Visual Arts: LONG LIST

From top left to bottom right: Joi T. Arcand (photo: Tracey Lynne Photography, courtesy of Joi Arcand)| Charles Campbell | Brenda Draney (photo: Amber Bracken, courtesy of Brenda Draney)| Emily Hermant (photo: BP Photography, courtesy of Emily Hermant and Monte Clark Gallery)| Kapwani Kiwanga (photo: Angela Scamarcio, courtesy of Kapwani Kiwanga and the Goodman Gallery)| Tau Lewis (photo: Lluna Falgas, courtesy of Tau Lewis)| Esmaa Mohamoud (photo: Jeremy Clemente, courtesy of Esmaa Mohamoud)| Lisa Myers (photo: Dana Prieto, courtesy of Lisa Myers) | Lou Sheppard (photo: Nathalie Chollet, courtesy of Lou Sheppard) | Sanaz Sohrabi (photo: Philippa Langley for Vie des arts, courtesy of Sanaz Sohrabi) | Catherine Telford-Keogh (photo: Sarah Bodri, courtesy of Catherine Telford-Keogh)| Howie Tsui (photo: Rémi Thériault, courtesy of Howie Tsui)| Zadie Xa (photo: Artifacts Copy, courtesy of Zadie Xa) | Jinny Yu (photo: Craig Boyko © AGO, courtesy of Jinny Yu and the AGO).

Being the first publication of the long list in the award’s twenty-year history, this marks a new chapter for these uniquely impactful awards. Most consequentially, it allows the Foundation, and the community of artists and arts experts who contribute to the selection process, to recognize and celebrate the accomplishments of an even greater number of deserving Canadian artists and curators.

“I was deeply honoured to learn that my curatorial work had been nominated, considered and discussed by peers from across the country, under such prestigious auspices as the Hnatyshyn Foundation Mid-Career Award for Curatorial Excellence. I am thrilled to have my name stand alongside other distinguished colleagues as part of [the Foundation’s] wonderful effort to shed light on curatorial work.”

- Ji-Yoon Han, Independent curator and researcher

About the Mid-Career Awards

The Hnatyshyn Foundation’s Mid-Career Awards are awarded annually to Canadian artists and curators in recognition of their outstanding work in their respective fields and in anticipation of their future contributions to the legacy of Canadian art. 

The Hnatyshyn Foundation Mid-Career Award for Excellence in Visual Arts, of $30,000, is awarded to a mid-career artist who has demonstrated excellence and innovation in their body of work and who shows promise of outstanding artistic achievement in the years ahead.

The Hnatyshyn Foundation Mid-Career Award for Curatorial Excellence, of $20,000, is awarded to a mid-career curator of contemporary visual art in recognition of their contribution to the advancement of the contemporary visual arts in Canada.

Juries

For each award, a selection committee of arts professionals from across Canada draws up the list of candidates and narrows it down through a series of votes and deliberations.

Guidelines, past laureates & past jurors: https://www.rjhf.com/current-programs/mid-career. 

Schedule of announcements

We look forward to announcing the short lists on July 15th and to unveiling the laureates, as well as the members of the juries, on August 15th.

On behalf of the Hnatyshyn Foundation, congratulations to the deserving artists and curators recognized on the long lists!