The Helen Copeland Memorial Award
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The OCC is pleased to announce a very special addition to our Award and Scholarship Program – The Helen Copeland Memorial Award. Established by family and friends in memory of Toronto potter Helen Copeland, this award recognizes excellence in ceramics and is open to artists at all career levels. In reflection of Helen’s exceptional contributions to the community through her work as an organizer, preference will be given to those candidates who demonstrate a high level of involvement in the crafts community. The exact amount and number of awards is yet to be determined, but the new award will be included in the 2012 Awards and Scholarships Program.
Donations to the award fund can be made by contacting the OCC’s Development Coordinator, Caitlin Plewes at cplewes@craft.on.ca or 416-925-4222 x222 or simply by mailing a cheque made out to the “Ontario Crafts Council”, noting the “Helen Copeland Memorial Award” in the memo line. Any donations over $20 will receive a tax receipt.
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Helen Copeland Memorial Award in Ceramics
Number of awards given: 1
Amount awarded: $1000
Application Requirements:
Standard application plus a description of community involvement of 100 words or less.
Description:
Established by family and friends in memory of Toronto potter Helen Copeland, this award recognizes excellence in ceramics and is open to artists at all career levels. In reflection of Helen’s exceptional contributions to the community through her work as an organizer, preference will be given to those candidates who demonstrate a high level of involvement in the crafts community.
TO APPLY
Application for the Helen Copeland Memorial Award is through our Standard Awards & Scholarships Program. Please visit the main Awards page for more information
ABOUT HELEN
Helen (Lehrer) Copeland died on January 30, 2011 at the age of 96.
Helen was part of the first wave of potters who arose in Toronto in the late 1930s and early1940s. She began her career taking classes at Central Technical School before going on to study at a summer school session at Alfred University in New York. Her education was typical for the times – part classes and part workshops from visiting artists.
Along with being a potter, Helen was active as an organizer in the clay community. She was instrumental in setting up the Canadian Guild of Potters Shop at 100 Avenue Road, Toronto, in 1962. She served as President of the Canadian Guild of Potters from 1963-65. For many years, the Guild hosted workshops by visiting artists, including Val Cushing, Daniel Rhodes, Don Reitz and Tatsuzo Shimaoka. Later, Helen served as a director and exhibition chairperson of the Ontario Craft Foundation.
Helen exhibited her work both nationally and internationally. She won Silver Medals at the 2nd International Exhibition of Contemporary Ceramics Ostend in 1959 and at the Ceramique International in Prague in 1962. A number of her pieces are now in the collections of the Canadian Museum of Civilization in Gatineau, QC and the Burlington Art Centre.
Questions? Contact Caitlin Plewes 416-925-4222x222 or cplewes@craft.on.ca
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