Announcing the Winners of the 2025 John Hobday Awards

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With the John Hobday Awards, the Canada Council for the Arts is proud to recognize the significant contributions of arts managers in professional arts organizations from Canada by providing support for professional development or mentoring opportunities.

The 2025 winners are:

Photo: Alexis GR

Evlyne Laurin

Professional Development and Renewal Award

Evlyne Laurin is the founder of Assemblage, a boutique firm dedicated to creative legacy stewardship, and an accredited member of the International Society of Appraisers. With a master’s degree in contemporary art from Sotheby’s Institute (London) and over a decade of experience across public and private sectors, she helps artists, collectors and estates preserve and activate cultural value. Her work champions overlooked and under-represented legacies through strategic, collaborative and resourceful planning. Deeply committed to knowledge-sharing and systemic impact, she envisions an entity that supports artists during their lifetime and stewards multiple estates to ensure their lasting contributions to cultural heritage.

Evlyne will use the award to further her training regarding artist legacy planning and to fund her participation in the Aspen Institute 2025 Seminar on Strategy for Artist-Endowed Foundation Leaders.

To learn more about Evlyne Laurin, visit https://www.assemblage.art/.

Photo: Jeremiah Hughes

Gabrielle Martin

Mentorship Award

Gabrielle Martin is a cultural producer and arts leader with over 20 years of experience directing, managing, curating and performing live arts. Since 2021, she has served as Artistic Director of the PuSh International Performing Arts Festival, where she leads multidisciplinary programming, industry events and organizational growth with an equity lens. A former Cirque du Soleil aerialist and currently practicing choreographer, Gabrielle is formally educated in contemporary dance, dramaturgy, and arts management. Known for her expansive vision and collaborative leadership, she has served on international juries, realized ambitious projects and championed the festival as a ritual space for social transformation.

This project is a 1-year mentorship with Judy Harquail, Canadian Association for the Performing Arts (CAPACOA)’s International Market Development Consultant and a member of Canadian Heritage and Global Affairs Canada’s Creative Exports Advisory Table. It will focus on learning opportunities in international engagement and cultural diplomacy through networking and research activities.

To learn more about Gabrielle Martin, visit https://pushfestival.ca/.

The Awards

The John Hobday Awards in Arts Management are granted to talented arts managers in professional arts organizations from Canada for professional development or mentoring purposes.

The Professional Development and Renewal Award is granted to an outstanding arts manager wishing to take part in a short term recognized program, seminar or workshop.
The Mentorship Award goes to an arts manager who is seeking to acquire different knowledge, experience and skills under the supervision of a mentor.

Background

These awards were established with a $1 million donation from the Samuel and Saidye Bronfman Family Foundation to the Canada Council for the Arts. John Hobday made an enormous contribution to improving the work quality and professionalism of arts managers from Canada by promoting professional development and continuous training and focusing on the profession’s importance for the growth and viability of the arts.