Established in 2012, our awards recognize artistic contributions to the labour movement and the many ways that the arts contribute to the everyday struggle for workers’ rights.
Nominations are now open for the 2026 awards!
Award recipients are honoured at our annual Gala event with an evening of good food, live music and celebration with the labour and arts community.
If you would like to celebrate the achievements of an artist or activist in your union or community, and they qualify for one of these awards, please submit a nomination.
Award Categories
The Artist Award for Excellence in Contribution to the Labour Movement
For an artist or arts based organization, working in any artistic discipline (e.g. visual arts, writing, performance, music, etc.), that has significantly captured the values of the labour movement in their work.
The Activist Award for Excellence in Contribution to Labour Arts
For an activist or an organization that has incorporated the arts in their labour activism.
The Labour Creative Maverick Award
For an individual or an organization that has captured the values of the labour movement in their art and activism over many years.
This award is open to an organization or an individual.
The Labour Organization Award for Excellence in Contribution to Labour Arts
For a labour organization that has made outstanding use of the arts to engage their membership and/or the community.
The Min Sook Lee Award for Outstanding Contribution to Labour Arts
For an individual or organization that has captured the values of the labour movement in their art and activism over many years. This award is named in honour of Min Sook Lee, an activist-artist whose own contributions moved the Mayworks Festival toward its current artistic vision to actively encourage representation of equity-seeking groups as audiences and artists. Lee also helped Mayworks focus on programming that engages new, non-arts audiences, and that challenges Eurocentric notions of art.
About Nominations
Who can be nominated?
The Mayworks Labour Arts Awards recognise the contributions of individuals and organisations in Ontario who produced artistic work in service of the labour movement in 2025/26 that is relevant to the category for which they are nominated.
In the case of the Min Sook Lee Award, nominees should have a multi-year history of contributing to labour arts in Ontario as an artist and activist but do not need to currently reside in Ontario.
How do I nominate an individual or organization?
Please submit a one-page summary explaining why the nominee(s) should be considered for the specific award. References that can help elucidate the reasons behind the nomination are welcome. Nominations should include images (up to 10) and/or recordings where relevant.
Nominations can be submitted by e-mail to awards@mayworks.ca.
Please contact Mayworks Chair, Emily Visser, with any questions at chair@mayworks.ca
What is the deadline?
The deadline to submit nominations for the Mayworks Labour Arts Awards is Monday September 14 2026 at midnight. Late submissions will not be considered.
When is the Mayworks Labour Arts Awards Gala?
Award recipients will be notified in October, and will be expected to attend the Mayworks Labour Arts Awards Gala in November.