Toronto, June 23, 2022 – Set and costume designer Anna Treusch is the 2022 recipient of the $25,000 Virginia and Myrtle Cooper Award in Costume Design. The award is given annually to a professional costume designer in Ontario in mid-career to further enrich their career through research and travel.
About Anna Treusch
Anna Treusch works as a set and costume designer for theatre, opera, and musical theatre throughout Canada with companies such as the Capitol Theatre, Canadian Stage, Nightwood Theatre, the Banff Centre for the Arts, the National Arts Centre, Young People’s Theatre, Native Earth, Coal Mine Theatre, Against the Grain, Thousand Islands Playhouse, Common Boots, Theatre St. Johns, Manitoba Theatre for Young People, Factory Theatre, Great Canadian Theatre Company, and Obsidian Theatre.
She has been a guest designer/ instructor in multiple institutions such as Sheridan College, George Brown College, University of Waterloo, Humber College, York University, Randolph College and St. Clair College. Anna has been lucky enough to have support from multiple mentors in her career and believes deeply that those mentors have played a major role in her career.
Anna holds a degree in Theatre Technical Production from Toronto Metropolitan University. She is a recipient of two Dora awards for her work in costume design. She has received multiple nominations for the Pauline McGibbon Award for work as a scenic painter. She is a proud member of Associated Designers of Canada (IATSE ADC659) and IATSE 828.
She would like to thank her parents, siblings and husband for their constant support and unwavering encouragement throughout the years. “This award is a reminder that our love of creation can be seen in the work we do every day, that our work matters, and it can reach people and leave an impression,” said Anna Treusch. “I look forward to continuing and growing my journey as a costume designer and look forward to my continued collaborations.” Photo: Dahlia Katz
Assessment
Anna Treusch was selected by an assessment panel comprising Brandon Kleinman, mid-career costume designer (Toronto), Michele Smith-Gilmour, co-Artistic Director, Theatre Smith-Gilmour, and Kelly Wolf, established costume designer (Hamilton).
The assessors were unanimous in their choice of Anna Treusch as the 2022 Virginia and Myrtle Cooper Award in Costume Design. They said, “Anna’s designs reflect her mature art practice and show her confidence and intelligence as an artist. She is curious and open to new ideas and new ways of creating character through her designs.”
“Under The Stairs”, Young People’s Theatre. Written by Kevin Dyer, Directed by Micheline Chevrier, Music by Reza Jacobs, Set by Teresa Przybylsk, Lighting by Michelle Ramsay, Costumes by Anna Treusch. l to r: Kelsey Verzotti, Paul Rainville, Fiona Sauder, Richard Lee, Kyle Orzech, Martin Julien and Neema Bickersteth. (2019) Photo: Cylla von Tiedemann
About the Award
Established through a generous gift under the will of Dr. Virginia Cooper, the Virginia and Myrtle Cooper Award is to be given “For the Love of Creation”. Dr. Cooper served as a director of the Tarragon Theatre, and was a charter member of the Arts and Letters Club of Toronto and active in its activities. She had a keen interest in the performing arts, particularly in costume design.
The Ontario Arts Foundation manages the endowment that funds the award, and the Ontario Arts Council manages the nomination and adjudication process.
Previous award winners include: Ming Wong (2021), Sean Mulcahy (2020), and Joanna Yu (2019). See the full list of previous recipients here.
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For more information, please contact:
Bruce Bennett, Executive Director, Ontario Arts Foundation
416-969-7413 | bbennett@oafdn.ca
Established in 1991, the Ontario Arts Foundation (OAF) is passionately committed to building long-term support for the arts in Ontario. In 2021-2022, the OAF paid out over $4.4 million in endowment income and $600,000 in awards and scholarships.
For more than 55 years, the Ontario Arts Council has played a vital role in promoting and assisting the development of the arts and artists for the enjoyment and benefit of Ontarians. In 2021-2022, the Ontario Arts Council invested $56.4 million in 237 communities across Ontario through 2,665 grants to individual artists and 1,050 grants to organizations.