Support Manitoba Artists

Your support helps Manitoba artists exhibit, grow, and be recognized.

As we approach our 125th anniversary in 2027, your donation helps us expand opportunities, recognize excellence, and support artists at every stage of their careers.

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Your Donation Supports

Your contribution helps fund:

Awards recognizing artistic excellence
Bursaries for emerging artists
Juried exhibitions across Manitoba
Professional development and artist talks
Programming that supports Manitoba artists

Beginning in 2026, the Manitoba Society of Artists is expanding to three annual juried exhibitions, creating even more opportunities for artists across the province. Donations help make these opportunities possible.

Create a Lasting Legacy

Many of our awards have been generously funded by families in memory of long-time MSA members and supporters. These legacy awards continue to celebrate artistic excellence and support artists year after year.

We gratefully acknowledge the families supporting awards in memory of:

W. Cliff Packer
Brian J. Hyslop
Lynn Sissons
William J. Birtles
Barbara Cook Endres
Jean Wiens
Bev Morton / Wayne Arthur

If you are interested in supporting an existing award or establishing a new award, we would be pleased to discuss opportunities with you.

Suggested Donation Impact

Every donation makes a difference:

$50 — Supports artist recognition and awards
$100 — Helps fund exhibition opportunities
$250 — Contributes to artist bursaries
$500+ — Supports awards and programming across Manitoba

How to Donate

Online Donation (Canada Helps).

Donate

By Mail If you would prefer to donate by mail, please email us info@manitobasocietyofartists.com and we will provide further details.

Direct Your Donation

If you would like your donation to support a specific award, please indicate this in the note section of the online form, or include a short note with your cheque.

If no award is specified, your donation will support the General Fund, helping fund exhibitions, bursaries, and programming.

Thank You!

Thank you for supporting the Manitoba Society of Artists and helping us celebrate creativity, recognize excellence, and support Manitoba artists.

Together, we are building a strong and vibrant visual arts community across Manitoba.

Our Awards & 2022 Award Winners

Barbara Cook Endres Award for First Place

The Barbara Cook Endres Award for First Place was named in 2012 to honour Manitoba artist and long-time MSA member, Barb Endres, who was an unflagging supporter of the visual arts. Barb joined MSA in 1947 and served in various executive positions continuously until her retirement in 2008. She was designated an honorary member in 2006. Upon her passing in 2010, she left a bequest to MSA, which allows a bursary to promising artist students. There is no stipulation attached to this award, it is therefore at the jurors’ discretion, The Best of Show.

Bev Morton/Wayne Arthur Award for Mixed Media

BEV MORTON/WAYNE ARTHUR AWARD FOR MIXED MEDIA was established by the family of Bev Morton in 2022 to honor the memory of Bev Morton and Wayne Arthur, to assist artists as they develop careers and validate their artistic practice, just as artists Bev Morton and Wayne Arthur shared their own artistic vision for so many years via their gallery with the creatives of Manitoba.

Artist Wayne Arthur and wife Bev Morton opened the Wayne Arthur Sculpture & Craft Gallery in 1995. After Wayne passed away, Bev moved the gallery to Winnipeg and established the Wayne Arthur Gallery 2002 – 2021, in memory of her late husband. Both Bev & Wayne were practicing visual artists, with Bev in textile art, and Wayne a sculptor.

As practicing artists, Bev and Wayne valued a milieu that validated the creative process and knowing how very important that was, they established that milieu and kept it thriving for many years. Always on the lookout for new talent, Bev was a mentor to many young and emerging Manitoba artists. Through the Wayne Arthur Gallery, Bev curated exhibits for a roster of more than 150 Manitoba artists working in painting, print-making, mixed media, sculpture, pottery, jewellery, glass and photography.

Brian J. Hyslop Award For Pastel

The Brian J. Hyslop Award for Pastel was established in 2006 to honour and celebrate the life of MSA Board member, Brian Hyslop. The intent of the pastel medium award is to encourage artists to demonstrate their skills with original work in pastels. Although Brian favoured landscapes, there is no jury advisory. It is their decision to choose the work of merit as they see fit.

Lynn Sissons Watercolour Award

The Lynn Sissons Watercolour Award was established by her family to honour long-time MSA member, Lynn Sissons, who passed away in 1985. The award is selected by the juror to be given to a work deserving of merit that demonstrates and promotes a traditional use of the medium. Therefore, the award favours works that are more representational than experimental in nature.

W. Cliff Packer Memorial Award

The W. Cliff Packer Memorial Award was established in 2000 to honour and celebrate the life and work of Cliff Packer. The intent of the award is to pay homage to Cliff’s varied interests as an artist. The theme of the award is “for a work of art deserving of merit in the genre tradition”. Genre is a term used to describe paintings and other works of art that deal with an informal representation of everyday life. Genre is not limited to a particular medium, it pays particular attention to work involving the human figure, and tends to be representational rather than abstract in nature.

William J. Birtles Award for Sculpture

The William J. Birtles Award for Sculpture was established in 2017. Born and raised in Manitoba, Bill Birtles taught in northern and city schools in Manitoba, as well as in the U.K. He was always keen to promote the importance of art in the communities where he lived. Bill was an accomplished artist whose drawings, paintings and sculpture are in private and public collections in North America and UK. He took an active role in the Manitoba Society of Artists for many years and was a regular exhibitor at the Manitoba Open Juried Competition & Exhibition. To pay tribute to his life as an artist and art educator his family has established the William J. Birtles Award for Sculpture.