Andrew Cohen already has many titles for a young person: singer, dancer, actor, director. The talented 25-year-old credits his blossoming career in entertainment, in part, to Gateway Theatre, where at age eight he participated in a Peter Pan show.
“That was the first time I was ever on stage and I guess that’s when I got the bug,” said Cohen.
This year, Cohen was one of six recipients of the 2014 Richmond Arts Awards, which were announced Tuesday evening as the city celebrated many of the greatest achievements and contributions to the arts by its residents, artists, actors, organizers and business leaders.
Cohen took home the Youth Arts Award. Since he left Richmond for Vancouver and graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of B.C., he’s produced a popular YouTube video, UBC Lipdub, and has appeared on stage across Canada as well as in film and television. Cohen also participated in the 2010 Winter Olympics closing ceremony.
This year promises to be another big one for Cohen as he embarks on creating a new musical that tells a story of people falling in and out of love set to new indie-rock covers of Joni Mitchell.
Richmond in 3D, a product of Richmond Multicultural Community Services, took home the Artistic Innovation Award.
Since 2009, Richmond in 3D has created dialogue on inclusiveness, multiculturalism, anti-bullying and anti-discrimination throughout the city’s schools. Youth tryout to become part of a volunteer troupe of actors that brings interactive theatre, music, movement, visual arts to engage students.
The goal of Richmond in 3D is to foster collaborative problem-solving. The project aims to get students to think about and respect different perspectives and backgrounds in life by role-playing scenarios such as bullying.
“Without judging the students we let them come up with solutions, which is a better way of learning, I believe,” said organizer Mark Pawson, who received the award on behalf of the troupe.
Taking home the Cultural Leadership Award was the crew from RichCity Idol, an annual charitable evening of singing performances at Gateway Theatre. Since 2004 hundreds of students have performed for RichCity, raising over $20,000 for non-profit groups.
In the Arts Education Award category, Linda Shirley was honoured for her work with children at The Arts Connection, a place for young arts students to shape their talents, be it music, art or acting. Shirley has worked with early learning programs, as well as before and after school care programs. Last year she connected Richmond youth to students from the area of Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside.
Taking home the Business and Arts Award was Chris Browne, the general manager of Accent Inns Vancouver Airport. Since 2008 Browne has fostered a relationship between the hotel and Gateway Theatre, and has since become the theatre’s largest sponsor, which includes accommodation for cast and crew for many productions. One of Browne’s biggest contributions has been to make the theatre more accessible for low-income families.
Last but not least, Loraine Wellman took home the Volunteerism Award. The number of organizations, groups and initiatives Wellman has been a part of is seemingly endless so the News will only name a few; notably Wellman is the vice-president of the Richmond Artists Guild and has been instrumental with helping the Steveston Grand Prix of Art and the Fraser River Art Festival.
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