The Ray Blackwell Award
for Excellence in Art Education
About the Award
Established in 1995 by the OAEA's Board, this award is presented annually to a deserving art educator in Ontario at the elementary, secondary, or postsecondary level. Nominated by OAEA members and determined by the executive, this award recognizes the career contributions of individuals through their exemplary practices and their advocacy role in supporting education in and through the visual arts. The award is in memory of Ray Blackwell, a well-respected Ontario educator who was a classroom teacher, Ministry of Education inspector, and vocal advocate for visual arts education in the province.
Ray was an OSEA member, President from 1963-64, and Honourary President from 1980-81. He wrote the first and definitive history of OSEA which was published in 1991. Following Ray Blackwell's death in 1994, OSEA was approached by his daughter, Barbara Blackwell, with a vision of inaugurating an award to honour her father's accomplishments. It is through Barbara Blackwell's enerous gift that the 'Ray Blackwell Award for Excellence in Art Education' is to be funded in perpetuity. This award is unique because it consists of an original print commissioned by the OSEA Board specifically for the purposes of the award. A new edition of prints is to be struck for each new decade of the award. Toronto artist Barbara Klunder produced the first set of awards, and artist Vicki Cowan created the second and current edition.
Nominations for 2013 Ray Blackwell Award are currently being accepted. For more information about how to nominate, click here.
Blackwell Award for 2012 - Tony Caputo
Blackwell Award for 2011 - Margot Roi
Blackwell Award for 2010 - Lupe Rodriguez
Blackwell Award for 2009 - Cyrel Troster
Blackwell Award for 2008 - The Gardiner Museum Education Department
Blackwell Award for 2007 – Terry Reeves
Other past recipients of the Blackwell Award include Prof. John Emerson, Dr. Roger Clark, Dr. Annie Smith, John Botterell, Jon Mergler, Dan Tomlinson, Wayne Rose, Julie Stone, Bob Phillips, Mario Gasparotto, Susan Brown, Heather Miller, and Dr. Lynette Fast.