Toronto, le 14 septembre 2026 – La costumière Rachel Forbes est la gagnante 2026 du Prix Virginia et Myrtle Cooper pour la création de costumes. Celebrating its 20th anniversary, this annual $30,000 award recognizes exceptional achievement by a mid-career professional costume designer in Ontario.
Beginning this year, the Virginia and Myrtle Cooper Award is introducing an annual Prix Protégé in support and recognition of emerging theatrical costume designers in Ontario. Rachel Forbes has selected Des’ree Gray to receive the inaugural $7,500 Protégé Award.
A propos de Rachel Forbes
Rachel Forbes is an award-winning set and costume designer creating for theatre, dance, opera and film. Her designs have been seen on stages, sites and screens all across Canada. Rachel is particularly interested in the development of new works, interdisciplinary explorations, experimental creation methods and designer-led theatre projects. Her explorations of non-traditional design practices led her to study at the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague (DAMU) in pursuit of a master’s degree which is currently in progress. Rachel proudly serves on the board of directors of the Associate Designers of Canada (NASO) where she curated and co-created the project “Designing the Revolution” and continues to help develop and lead the workshop “Training the Eye”. She is an avid mentor, teacher, and supporter of young-in-craft designers, particularly young designers of colour. Rachel has designed, mentored and taught at Toronto Metropolitan University, Sheridan College, University of Toronto, Obsidian Theatre’s Young Gifted and Black program and the Soulpepper Academy.
Recent Costume Design credits include: Copperbelt, Da Kink in My Hair, A Streetcar Named Desire (Soulpepper Theatre); Slave Play, Fairview (Canadian Stage); Of the Sea (Tapestry Opera/ Obsidian Theatre); Harlem Duet (Bard on the Beach); The Doctor’s Dilemma (Shaw Festival).
“I am deeply honoured to be the 2026 laureate for the Virginia and Myrtle Cooper Award,” said Rachel Forbes. “It’s a great privilege to be counted among the talented laureates and nominees. I have endless gratitude for my mentors, collaborators and the costumers who make it all possible through their dedication and artistry. It means a lot to be part of a growing number of Black designers in this country, and I hope we continue to see a diverse future for costume designers and makers in Canada.”
Évaluation
Rachel Forbes a été sélectionnée par un jury composé de Victoria Bruer (Toronto) seamstress, constructing costumes for numerous theatre companies, including the Stratford Festival, Shaw Festival and Blyth Festival; Rouvan Silogix (Thornhill) theatre designer, actor and playwright, and Artistic Director of Modern Times Stage Company; and Michelle Tracey (Toronto) costume designer, and recipient of the 2025 Virginia and Myrtle Cooper Award in Costume Design.
Les évaluatrices ont été unanimes dans leur choix de Rachel Forbes as the 2026 Virginia and Myrtle Cooper Award in Costume Design. They said, “Rachel has a unique artistic voice creating stunning looks. We are impressed by her clarity of inspiration and ability to communicate specificity. Her looks include dramatic silhouettes, strong colours and outstanding fabric manipulation. Rachel understands how to elevate costumes, giving the characters extraordinary potential to tell their stories.”
Artist renderings from Slave Play, Canadian Stage, 2025.
A propos du lauréat protégé
Des’ree Gray is a Toronto based Costume Designer with experience in film and theatre. She is a graduate of Toronto Metropolitan University’s Production Design Program and takes pride in her abilities in all stages of the design process.
Costume Design credits include: A Case for the Existence of God, Appropriate (Coalmine Theatre); Tyson’s Song (Pleiades Theatre); The Flight (Factory Theatre); The First Stone (Buddies in Bad Times Theatre). Associate Costume Design credit for Treemonisha (Volcano Productions). Assistant Costume Design credits include: Frankenstein: Revived, Little Women (Stratford Festival); Fairview, Maanomaa, Da Kink in My Hair (Canadian Stage).
A propos le prix
Le Prix Virginia et Myrtle Cooper pour la création de costumes, créé grâce à un don généreux dans le testament de la Dr. Virginia Cooper, est attribué « pour l’amour de la création ». Dr Cooper a été directrice du théâtre Tarragon et elle était membre fondatrice du Arts and Letters Club de Toronto, auquel elle participait activement. Elle s’intéressait vivement aux arts de la scène, en particulier à la conception des costumes.
La Fondation des arts de l'Ontario gère le fonds de dotation qui finance le Prix. Le Conseil des arts de l’Ontario gère le processus de nomination et de sélection pour le prix.
Les lauréats précédents incluent Michelle Tracey (2025), Nadine Grant (2024), et Vanessa Imeson (2023). La liste des lauréates et lauréats précédents.
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Pour plus d'information, veuillez contacter :
Bruce Bennett, directeur général
Fondation des arts de l'Ontario
Tel: (416) 969-7413 bbennett@oafdn.ca
La Fondation des arts de l’Ontario (FAO) est passionnément engagée à renforcer le soutien à long terme pour les arts en Ontario. En 2025-2026, la FAO a versé 5,7 millions de dollars en revenus de dotation et 630 000 dollars en prix et bourses.
Depuis 60 ans, le Conseil des arts de l’Ontario (CAO) joue un rôle de premier plan dans la promotion et l'aide en matière de développement des arts au profit de tous les Ontariens. En 2024-2025, le CAO a investi $52.2 million dans 204 collectivités de la province par le biais de 1,960 subventions à des artistes et de 1,030 subventions à des organismes.
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