New award named in honour of Saskatchewan artist

The Thorn Prize will support mid-career Canadian artists with project funding and a solo exhibition at Regina’s Mackenzie Art Gallery. Mick Favel has the story.

The Mackenzie Art Gallery announced a new award they will distributing intended on helping the growth of established artists.

The Thorn Prize is named in honour of Regina-born artist Anthony Thorn.

Those who win the award will receive $50,000 to support a self-directed period of exploration, as well as a solo exhibition at the Mackenzie Art Gallery.

“We hope this can be a life changing award at an important point in someone’s career, and are looking to get themselves established, and brings that recognition to bring them to that next level,” said John G. Hampton, the executive director and CEO of the Mackenzie Art Gallery.

• Download the CTV News app to get breaking news alerts sent to your device

The initiative was made possible through the generous support of Thorn’s sister, Lyn Goldman, who understands the career of an artist can have its unique challenges.

“[Artists] need recognition, they need an agent or a gallery, and it isn’t easy,” she said.

“I think it is very important for someone along the way to recognize what they are doing and give them that hope the world is interested in what they are doing,” she concluded.

Thorn was born in 1927 and was a part of the first generation of Saskatchewan artists to experiment with abstraction in the 1950’s.

His career would span over six decades, and his work would become known across Canada and around the world

The artist would also teach the arts throughout Canada.

“This is a great opportunity to celebrate national artists here in Saskatchewan. To continue the tradition of Saskatchewan playing a central role in Canadian identity,” Hampton said.

The Thorn prize will be awarded every two years, over the next 10 years.

The winner will be picked through a nomination process, with the inaugural award recipient being planned for February 2027.