Toronto, May 5, 2015 – Costume designer, Robin Fisher is the 2015 recipient of the $15,000 Virginia and Myrtle Cooper Award in Costume Design. The award is given annually to professional costume designers in Ontario in mid-career to further enrich their careers through research and travel.
Robin Fisher is a Dora-Award winning set and costume designer based in Toronto. A graduate of both the Costume Studies Program at Dalhousie University and the Scenography Program at The National Theatre School of Canada, Robin has been designing productions for theatres across the country.
Some of her work has been seen in Toronto at Canadian Stage, Young People’s Theatre, Theatre Passe Muraille, Canadian Opera Company, the Belfry Theatre in Victoria, the Globe Theatre in Regina, Western Canada Theatre in Kamloops, and the Great Canadian Theatre Company in Ottawa. Robin has also forayed into film and music videos with her costume designs.
Robin was selected as the winner from an outstanding group of nominees. This year’s jury consisted of Alexandra Gilbert, Head of Wardrobe, Ryerson Theatre School, Peter Hartwell, set and costume designer, and Dana Osbourne, set and costume designer and the 2012 winner of the Virginia and Myrtle Cooper Award. The jury was unanimous in their praise of Robin’s work, stating “Her designs have the rare ability to transform an audience’s experience. Her work shows a deep respect for costume design.”
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. The Ontario Arts Council administers the nomination and selection process.
-30-
For more information, please contact:
Alan Walker, Executive Director, Ontario Arts Foundation
416-969-7413 | awalker@arts.on.ca
The Ontario Arts Foundation (OAF) works with arts patrons to build long-term support for the arts in Ontario. In 2014-2015, the OAF paid out over $2.8 million in endowment income and $275,000 in awards and scholarships.
For more than 50 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 2013-2014, the Ontario Arts Council funded 1,737 individual artists and 1,095 organizations in 223 communities across Ontario for a total of $52.1 million.