2025 PEI Arts Awards Winners
News Release | November 14, 2025 | princeedwardisland.ca
Island artists were recognized for their excellence at the 2025 PEI Arts Awards ceremony.
This year’s winners include:
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- Brenda Whiteway (Father Adrien Arsenault Senior Arts Award)
- Brian Markham, Julie Bull, and the Charlottetown Zine Fest (Leo Cheverie Cultural Connector of the Year Award)
- Confederation Centre Art Gallery: Erica Rutherford Retrospective (Premier’s Award for Stand-Out Project of the Year)
- Indigenous PEI (Organization of the Year Award Winner)
- Inn Echo (Artist of the Year Award)
- Jessica Sheppard (Gertie & Henry Purdy Emerging Visual Arts Bursary)
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“PEI is home to hard-working talent from our traditional industries to our rapidly growing creative fields. As we look to sustainably grow and diversify our Island economy, continued investments in the professional arts’ workforce will help the creative sector position itself as an emerging economic strength to watch.”
– Darlene Compton, Minister of Economic Development, Innovation and Trade
Each recipient receives a cash prize and a unique work of art created in Prince Edward Island.
PEI’s economy continues to benefit from the dedication, creativity, and contributions of its professional artists.
Through Innovation PEI’s broad range of support programs, over 400 professional artists and creative organizations have received over 37.6M in the last five years to help further their careers in the arts and creative sector and contribute to the diversification of the Island economy.
Since 2023, as part of PEI’s Renewed Action Plan for Arts, Culture and Creative Industries, the Province has organized the PEI Arts Awards to recognize the important economic, social, and cultural contributions of artistic and creative professionals to Prince Edward Island.
Learn more about provincial financial supports for PEI’s arts and culture sector here.
Media contact:
Vicki Tse
Department of Economic Development, Innovation and Trade
vickitse@gov.pe.ca
Backgrounder:
Artist of the Year – Celebrates an individual artist regardless of artistic discipline who has had a breakout year in their respective field of practice and has demonstrated outstanding contribution and growth. Recognizes artistic merit, professional achievement, future potential and recognition at the provincial, national and/or international level.
Gertie & Henry Purdy Emerging Visual Arts Bursary – Awarded to an emerging artist in the visual arts to support any activity that encourages training, promotion, exhibition, and leadership in and to the field of practice of the artist. This was awarded on behalf of the Community Foundation of PEI.
Leo Cheverie Cultural Connector of the Year – Celebrates an individual, group or organization from PEI whose role as a champion of the arts has had a positive impact on creating access and connections between various communities within the arts and culture sector of the province.
Organization of the Year – Recognizes an organization from PEI whose artistic and cultural contributions have had a significant, positive impact on the provincial landscape, its residents, and visitors.
Premier of Prince Edward Island’s Award for Stand-Out Project of the Year – Recognizes an artist, arts professional, group, collective or arts organization that has produced an innovative artistic or cultural project addressing themes such as reconciliation, climate change, accessibility, digital innovation, and more.
Check out the photos from the third annual PEI Arts Awards
Ready to learn more?
Get in touch with an Innovation PEI team member. We’ll assess your needs and provide practical advice to help you grow and succeed.