Nomination period extended for Arts and Culture Legacy Award

The City of Medicine Hat has extended the nomination period for its newly-created Arts and Culture Legacy Award. 

The City has extended the 2026 nomination deadline to Friday, August 7. The extension provides residents with an additional three weeks to submit the form and other required materials within the nomination package.

“We understood it could be a tight timeline to announce a new award, generate awareness, and require nomination packages to be submitted within two months – especially heading into the summer,” said Aaron Nelson, Acting Director of Community Development. “This extension meets the demand expressed by interested residents within this uniquely shorter nomination period of the inaugural year.”

Moving beyond 2026, the annual nomination deadline will be July 15.

About the award

The Arts and Culture Legacy Award was created in 2026 to serve as a visual memory of arts and culture contributions and achievements, and to ensure the individuals behind them receive due recognition. 

The award has two induction categories:

• Artist – An artist in any discipline who has made outstanding contributions to the community or received substantial recognition for their art beyond Medicine Hat.
• Culture Builder – Individuals who have made exceptional contributions to life and culture development in the community as champions, supporters, patrons, administrators, teachers and mentors.

Up to five nominees per year may be inducted. Both categories may not be represented annually among award recipients.

The City will host an annual Arts and Culture Legacy Award induction ceremony to honour the newest recipients. The inductees will then be displayed at the Arts and Culture Legacy Gallery at the Esplanade Arts and Heritage Centre. The first induction ceremony is set for January 2027, with further details to be announced at a later date.

View the Arts and Culture Legacy Award webpage to submit nominations, and learn about induction criteria, nomination form requirements, procedures, and more.

For media inquiries, please contact:
media@medicinehat.ca