Toronto – March 10, 2023 – The Gina Wilkinson Prize Committee is pleased to announce that Tanisha Taitt is the recipient of the 12th annual Gina Wilkinson Prize. Gina’s Prize recognizes theatre artists from underrepresented genders which includes cis women, trans women, and non-binary folks with a demonstrated body of work, who are recognized by their communities for their practice, leadership and dedication to their craft.
Award Recipient
Tanisha Taitt
Born and raised in Toronto, Tanisha is a playwright/performer/educator, Dora-nominated director and accidental essayist who still calls the city home. She was pursuing her first love, music, when life collided with what would become her second. 17 years after this happy accident led to her first experience of leadership in community activist theatre, as Producer of V-Day Toronto, she occupies the artistic helm of Cahoots and co-coordinates the Theatre and Drama Studies program at Sheridan/UTM.
Tanisha’s journey as a college educator began at George Brown Theatre School, where her transformation of the Contemporary Scene Study syllabus led to the keynote address at the inaugural Canadian Theatre Educators’ Conference. Also a singer-songsmith since her teens, Tanisha is a recipient of the Canadian Music Publishers Association Songwriters Scholarship for exceptionality in songcraft. She was thrilled to bring her passion for the art form to her work as a theatre educator when she joined Sheridan’s Music Theatre Performance faculty, teaching Acting Through Song.
In 2019, Tanisha was appointed Artistic Director of Cahoots Theatre. During her tenure, she has created over a dozen initiatives for artists in the margins. After implementing the Small Change program, providing microgrants to artists following the pandemic-driven industry shutdown, she and co-leader Lisa Alves conceived the Compassionate Care Fund to reduce financial barriers to artistic participation. She accepts that she cannot be all things to all people, but hopes that her efforts leave something permanent – and something impermanent – behind. Tanisha is a two-time YWCA Woman of Distinction nominee for her commitment to artistic excellence and social justice.
Artist Statement
“Bountiful gratitude to the Prize committee. This news brought me to tears.
When my longtime mentor Allen (MacInnis) first nominated me for this award in 2021, my impulse was to flinch. I was touched that he was championing me, but I wasn’t sure if I embraced the same self-belief. Reading his words, I realized that I was doing what women often do — what women of colour are tacitly encouraged to do — which was to downplay who I was as a builder of the world around me. I now value my contributions, and understand that to further evolve as an leader I must prioritize Forward, not Back. I always wanted people to audit and atone for the past. There is meaningful resonance to that, certainly, but I’ve become less concerned with the eggshell fragility of those clinging to their own diminishing echoes.
I know now that ego, shame and fear prevent people from cleaning their rearview mirrors. I’m investing in legacies of the future. I see hope in my students; I feel hope in the communities Cahoots serves. My notion of ‘community’ is ever-expanding, as is my reach. I stumble often, but I am fueled by courage and truth rather than cynicism and resentment. And I am bolstered everyday by sweet Gina, who believed in me so deeply and whom I’d like to think is smiling now. My mentor, my friend… I love you beyond measure. Always.”
Finalists
Reneltta Arluk
Reneltta is an Inuvialuit, Dene and Cree from the Northwest Territories. She is founder of Akpik Theatre, a northern focussed professional Indigenous Theatre company. Raised by her grandparents on the trap-line until school age, this nomadic environment gave Reneltta the skills to become the multi-disciplined artist she is now. For two decades, Reneltta has taken part in or initiated the creation of Indigenous Theatre across Canada and internationally. Reneltta has written, produced, and performed various works creating space for Indigenous-led voice. Current works include Pawâkan, a Plains Cree takeover of Macbeth written by Arluk. Pawâkan was inspired by working with youth and Elders on Frog Lake reserve, Treaty 6 territory. Reneltta is the first Inuk and first Indigenous woman to graduate of the University of Alberta’s BFA Acting program and direct at The Stratford Festival where she was awarded the Tyrone Guthrie – Derek F. Mitchell Artistic Director’s Award for her direction of the The Breathing Hole.
Aviva is a caretaker on land originally inhabited by the Erie, Neutral, Huron-Wendat, Haundenosaunee and Mississaugas Peoples. She is an actor, director, writer and producer, working in theatre and film. Most recently, Aviva appeared on stage in ARC’s production of Martyr, at the GCTC in Forever Young, produced VideoCabaret’s The Great War and directed and produced the short film You’re Invited.
Makambe K. Simamba
Makambe K Simamba is a multiple award-winning playwright and actor. Select stage acting credits include The First Stone (New Harlem Productions), Serving Elizabeth (Thousand Islands Playhouse), GIANT (Ghost River Theatre), Winners and Losers (Chromatic Theatre), Bea (Sage Theatre), inVISIBLE (Handsome Alice Theatre) and SIA (Pyretic Productions).
As a playwright, her solo work includes the multiple Dora Award-Winning Our Fathers, Sons, Lovers and Little Brothers (b current performing arts, Tarragon Theatre, Black Theatre Workshop), A Chitenge Story (Handsome Alice Theatre) and Makambe Speaks (Ghost River Theatre). Makambe’s works in progress have been supported by The Stratford Festival, Banff Playwright’s Lab, Downstage Theatre, Alberta Theatre Projects, b current performing arts, Citadel Theatre, Obsidian Theatre, and Green Thumb Theatre.
Makambe was the 2020/21 Urjo Kareda Artist in Residence at the Tarragon theatre. Makambe’s intention is to be of service to her community through her ability to tell stories.
Nominations and Selection Committee
The 22 nominations from across the country spoke to an incredibly diverse, dynamic and passionate group of artistic leaders who are serving their communities. They were inspiring, original and dedicated to creating positive spaces centered around care and innovative practice.
About the Prize
Gina’s Prize pays tribute to Gina Wilkinson, who passed away in 2010, and whose dedication, vision and indomitable spirit imbued her work and her life.
Gina’s interdisciplinary artistry as a dancer, visual artist, actor, playwright and director established her as a daring, strong, inventive leader and collaborator in the Canadian theatre. She believed in the necessity of fun in the rehearsal hall, on and off stage, and in all aspects of one’s life. In the spirit of Gina’s appetite for life, the prize money is a gift to be used in any way the recipient chooses. The award recipient receives a $10,000 prize, and $2,500 is awarded to each of the finalists.
The Gina Wilkinson Prize Committee (Micheline Chevrier, Krista Jackson, Ann-Marie Kerr, Lindsay Lachance, Kimberley Rampersad, Tom Rooney & Jovanni Sy) extends its heartfelt thanks to all of our supporters. Through their incredible generosity, the spirit of Gina lives on.
To contribute a gift to Gina’s Prize: https://www.oafdn.ca/make-a-donation/.
Gina’s Prize honours artists who work across Turtle Island on both treaty and unceded territories. Through this prize, we look to acknowledge and amplify their relationship to the land they live on and the communities they serve.
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For more information about the award:
Krista Jackson & Kimberley Rampersad, Committee Co-Leaders
ginasprize@gmail.com
www.ginasprize.ca
For more information about the Ontario Arts Foundation:
Bruce Bennett, Executive Director
Ontario Arts Foundation
416-969-7413 | bbennett@oafdn.ca