{"id":146246,"date":"2026-09-14T11:20:28","date_gmt":"2026-09-14T15:20:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/oafdn.ca\/?p=146246"},"modified":"2026-09-14T11:22:17","modified_gmt":"2026-09-14T15:22:17","slug":"rachel-forbes-honoured-with-the-virginia-and-myrtle-cooper-award-in-costume-design","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/oafdn.ca\/fr\/rachel-forbes-honoured-with-the-virginia-and-myrtle-cooper-award-in-costume-design\/","title":{"rendered":"Rachel Forbes re\u00e7oit le Prix Virginia et Myrtle Cooper pour la cr\u00e9ation de costumes"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Toronto, le 14 septembre 2026 \u2013 La costumi\u00e8re Rachel Forbes<\/strong> est la gagnante 2026 du Prix Virginia et Myrtle Cooper pour la cr\u00e9ation de costumes<\/strong><\/a>.\u00a0 Celebrating its 20th anniversary<\/strong>, this annual $30,000 award recognizes exceptional achievement by a mid-career professional costume designer in Ontario.<\/p>

Beginning this year, the Virginia and Myrtle Cooper Award is introducing an annual Prix Prot\u00e9g\u00e9<\/strong> in support and recognition of emerging theatrical costume designers in Ontario.\u00a0 Rachel Forbes has selected Des’ree Gray<\/strong> to receive the inaugural $7,500 Prot\u00e9g\u00e9 Award.<\/p>

A propos de Rachel Forbes<\/strong>
\"\" Rachel Forbes<\/a><\/strong> 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\u2019s 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 \u201cDesigning the Revolution\u201d and continues to help develop and lead the workshop \u201cTraining the Eye\u201d. 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\u2019s Young Gifted and Black program and the Soulpepper Academy.<\/p>

Recent Costume Design credits include: Copperbelt<\/em>, Da Kink in My Hair<\/em>, A Streetcar Named Desire<\/em> (Soulpepper Theatre); Slave Play<\/em>, Fairview<\/em> (Canadian Stage); Of the Sea<\/em> (Tapestry Opera\/ Obsidian Theatre); Harlem Duet<\/em> (Bard on the Beach); The Doctor\u2019s Dilemma<\/em> (Shaw Festival).<\/p>

\u201cI am deeply honoured to be the 2026 laureate for the Virginia and Myrtle Cooper Award,\u201d said Rachel Forbes<\/strong>. \u201cIt\u2019s 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.\u201d<\/p>

\u00c9valuation<\/strong>
Rachel Forbes<\/strong> a \u00e9t\u00e9 s\u00e9lectionn\u00e9e par un jury compos\u00e9 de Victoria Bruer<\/strong> (Toronto) seamstress, constructing costumes for numerous theatre companies, including the Stratford Festival, Shaw Festival and Blyth Festival; Rouvan Silogix<\/strong> (Thornhill) theatre designer, actor and playwright, and Artistic Director of Modern Times Stage Company; and Michelle Tracey<\/strong> (Toronto) costume designer, and recipient of the 2025 Virginia and Myrtle Cooper Award in Costume Design.<\/p>

Les \u00e9valuatrices ont \u00e9t\u00e9 unanimes dans leur choix de Rachel Forbes<\/strong> as the 2026 Virginia and Myrtle Cooper Award in Costume Design. They said, \u201cRachel 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.”<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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\"\"\"\"<\/p>

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Artist renderings from Slave Play,<\/em> Canadian Stage, 2025.<\/p>


A propos du laur\u00e9at prot\u00e9g\u00e9<\/strong>
\"\"Des’ree Gray<\/strong><\/a> 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<\/em> (Coalmine Theatre); Tyson\u2019s Song<\/em> (Pleiades Theatre); The Flight<\/em> (Factory Theatre); The First Stone<\/em> (Buddies in Bad Times Theatre). Associate Costume Design credit for Treemonisha<\/em> (Volcano Productions). Assistant Costume Design credits include: Frankenstein: Revived, Little Women<\/em> (Stratford Festival); Fairview, Maanomaa, Da Kink in My Hair<\/em> (Canadian Stage).<\/p>



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A propos le prix<\/strong>
Le Prix Virginia et Myrtle Cooper pour la cr\u00e9ation de costumes, cr\u00e9\u00e9 gr\u00e2ce \u00e0 un don g\u00e9n\u00e9reux dans le testament de la Dr. Virginia Cooper<\/strong>, est attribu\u00e9 \u00ab pour l\u2019amour de la cr\u00e9ation \u00bb. Dr Cooper a \u00e9t\u00e9 directrice du th\u00e9\u00e2tre Tarragon et elle \u00e9tait membre fondatrice du Arts and Letters Club de Toronto, auquel elle participait activement. Elle s\u2019int\u00e9ressait vivement aux arts de la sc\u00e8ne, en particulier \u00e0 la conception des costumes.
La Fondation des arts de l'Ontario g\u00e8re le fonds de dotation qui finance le Prix. Le Conseil des arts de l\u2019Ontario g\u00e8re le processus de nomination et de s\u00e9lection pour le prix.<\/p>

Les laur\u00e9ats pr\u00e9c\u00e9dents incluent Michelle Tracey<\/strong> (2025), Nadine Grant<\/strong> (2024), et Vanessa Imeson<\/strong> (2023). La liste des laur\u00e9ates et laur\u00e9ats pr\u00e9c\u00e9dents<\/a>.<\/p>

###<\/p>


Pour plus d'information, veuillez contacter :<\/strong>
Bruce Bennett, directeur g\u00e9n\u00e9ral
Fondation des arts de l'Ontario
Tel: (416) 969-7413 bbennett@oafdn.ca<\/a><\/p>


La Fondation des arts de l\u2019Ontario (FAO) est passionn\u00e9ment engag\u00e9e \u00e0 renforcer le soutien \u00e0 long terme pour les arts en Ontario. En 2025-2026, la FAO a vers\u00e9 5,7 millions de dollars en revenus de dotation et 630 000 dollars en prix et bourses.<\/p>

Depuis 60 ans, le Conseil des arts de l\u2019Ontario (CAO) joue un r\u00f4le de premier plan dans la promotion et l'aide en mati\u00e8re de d\u00e9veloppement des arts au profit de tous les Ontariens. En 2024-2025, le CAO a investi $52.2\u202fmillion dans 204 collectivit\u00e9s de la province par le biais de 1,960 subventions \u00e0 des artistes et de 1,030 subventions \u00e0 des organismes.<\/p>

This document is also available in English.<\/em><\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Toronto, September 14, 2026 \u2013 Costume designer Rachel Forbes is the 2026 winner of the Virginia and Myrtle Cooper Award in Costume Design.\u00a0 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 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":316,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"give_campaign_id":0,"nf_dc_page":"","site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"set","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-146246","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news-release"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/oafdn.ca\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/146246","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/oafdn.ca\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/oafdn.ca\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/oafdn.ca\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/316"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/oafdn.ca\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=146246"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/oafdn.ca\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/146246\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":146263,"href":"https:\/\/oafdn.ca\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/146246\/revisions\/146263"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/oafdn.ca\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=146246"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/oafdn.ca\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=146246"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/oafdn.ca\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=146246"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}