Some of the New Westminster arts scene’s brightest lights were in the spotlight at the New Westminster Chamber of Commerce Platinum Awards gala on Nov. 20.
Cassius Khan and Amika Kushwaha took home the Artist of the Year honours, while Susan Greig won the Bernie Legge Cultural Award. Greig also took home the Corporate Community Spirit Award for 100 Braid Street Studios.
Khan and Kushwaha are the driving forces behind the highly regarded Mushtari Begum Festival of Indian Classical Music and Dance, as well as being renowned performers in their own art forms (Khan as a tabla player and ghazal vocalist, and Kushwaha as a kathak dancer). Greig, meanwhile, has been a force on the New West arts scene since opening 100 Braid Street Studios in 2014 and spearheading a major expansion this past year – along the way providing support and a venue for a host of New West arts and cultural events.
Artist of the Year nominees also included Stephanie Lam, known for her work with Quayside Voices (and the ensemble’s successful efforts to bring Swedish a cappella sensations the Real Group to town this past year) and PJ Patten, an illustrator, writer, artist and graphic novelist.
Bernie Legge Cultural Award nominees also included Khan, along with Janet Kvammen, who works with both the Royal City Literary Arts Society and New West Artists.
The city's venerable Massey Theatre, which has been a hub for all things cultural in the city since 1949, also captured a Lifetime Achievement Award.
For the full list of Platinum Award winners, see a story here.
