2025 Sam Carter Applied + Art Design Award

AWARD PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Capturing the hearts and creative minds of BC’s design community for over two decades, the Sam Carter Award in Applied Art + Design (AAD) program celebrates functional art. Named in honour of its founder who passed away in late 2023, the Sam Carter Award highlights the importance of BC’s thriving creative economy.

The AAD award program recognizes excellence amongst artists who, through their creativity, contribute to the cultural economy of the province. Artists and designers whose work has a practical or functional application may be considered for this award.

WHY NOMINATE OR APPLY

The AAD program advances the collective conversation around functional art and design. Applying for an award serves as a platform to communicate an artist’s work, vision and creativity. The process invites an opportunity for critical artistic reflection and exposes artists and designers to a wider audience.

DATES TO REMEMBER (2025 award program)

Jan 1 – Feb 15 Official Call for Nominations
October 2025 – Awardees Announced
November 2025 – Art Exhibition open to the public @ The Roundhouse & presentation ceremony

The completed nomination form and all materials must be by submitted by February 15 @ 11:59 p.m. for the nomination to be considered for the 2025 award program.

Save and Continue Later – If you don’t have all the information on hand, click on the ‘Save and Continue Later’ button at the bottom of the online nomination form – you will be prompted to enter your email and will receive a link that you can access and complete your nomination prior to the deadline.

CHECKLIST – BEFORE YOU START

• Review the AAD Nomination Guide with tips for submitting a compelling nomination
• Ensure the nominator and nominee meet the eligibility criteria
• Prepare the Nominator Statement in a word document, then copy and paste the content into the required field; use bullet points and leave a line between points
• Have all nominator and nominee contact information
• Have all documents ready to upload
• Schedule 15-20 minutes to complete the form

CATEGORIES

Artists have the option to self-identify in one of two categories:

Emerging: Artists have developed basic techniques through education and/or apprenticeship; and are in the early stages of launching a professional career. They have created and publicly presented a body of independent work and are ready for the next step in their artistic development.

Established: Artists have demonstrated advanced techniques; shown a commitment to their art practice; and are recognized in their community as artists. They have publicly presented a significant body of independent work and serve as mentors in their respective artistic community.

Award of Distinction: A nominator may request that the nominee be considered for this award designation. The Award of Distinction for lifetime achievement is presented to an established artist in recognition of extraordinary and sustained accomplishment in applied art + design. Recipients exemplify committed vision, innovative enterprise, passionate talent, and they are an inspiration to their community and province.

NOMINEE ELIGIBILITY

An eligible nominee must:

• Practice in the field of applied art + design and produce work that has a practical or functional application to be considered for this award. This includes, but not limited to, furniture, textiles, jewellery, ceramics, weaving, glass, fashion, and industrial design
• Have been a resident of BC for the past three years

 An artist or designer may self-nominate (i.e., apply for the award program).

The following are ineligible to receive the Award:

• Posthumous nominations
• Past recipients*
• Those who work in the fields of architecture, fine art, graphic or interior design, web or mobile design

*Visit BC Achievement’s Awardees webpage to see if your nominee is a past recipient of the award.

NOMINATOR ELIGIBILITY

Any person, group or organization may submit nominations for the Award with exceptions noted below:

• Current members of the jury panel, or members of the jury panel’s immediate family may not submit a nomination
• BC Achievement board members may not submit a nomination

SELECTION OF AWARDEES

An independent jury panel reviews the nominations and selects the awardees. The decision of the jury is final. Nominees are notified only if selected for an award. Nominators are informed as to whether or not they have been successful with their application.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Award recipients are selected based on the material submitted by the nominator. The work of the nominee should exemplify and demonstrate excellence based on the following criteria:

• Artistic Excellence
• Creativity & Originality
• Innovative Approach & Sustainability
• Aesthetics

Up to four artists will be awarded including the Emerging Artist.

Judson Beaumont Emerging Artist – the Judson Beaumont Emerging Artist designation was established in 2021. Named in honour of the late Judson Beaumont (1959- 2020), this recognition aims to embody Judson’s enthusiasm, kindness and generosity, exemplify the meaning of excellence and highlight emerging applied artists and designers.

RECOGNITION

AAD award recipients receive a cash prize bursary and are featured in a recognition film produced by BC Achievement. In addition, they receive a medallion and pin designed by renowned artist Robert Davidson, OC, OBC, and a commemorative framed certificate and letter from the Premier recognizing their achievements.

Award recipients are granted use of the Applied Art + Design Award seal to signify their creative excellence.

An art exhibition and presentation ceremony will be held to showcase the awardees’ accomplishments.

Click here to download the AAD Nomination Guide for tips on how to submit a compelling nomination.

The nominator must complete the online Nomination form and include the following:

• Nominator name & contact information (if applicable)
• Nominee name & contact information
• Category: Emerging or Established
• Number of years nominee has been practicing their craft
• Field / Medium of artwork
• Nominator Statement (max. 3000 characters incl. space or approx. 500 words)
• Nominee’s CV or resumé
• Images of the nominee’s work & description 
• Additional Materials – optional, but strongly recommended (up to 5 items max.)
  

Nominator Statement

• Provide reasons for the submission and a description of why it should be considered for the award
• Describe why the nominee became an artist, what their work means to them and others
• Explain what inspires the nominee
• Address what kinds of artwork they create, which mediums they practice in and what makes the nominee’s artwork unique
• Describe how the nominee’s work contributes to the cultural economy of the BC

Please use bullet points & leave a space between points.
Max. 3000 characters including spaces or approx. 500 words.

For Emerging Artists, provide a statement that describes how receiving the award would help to advance their career trajectory and support them achieving the next level of artistic development.

Max. 500 characters including spaces or approx. 80 words.

Nominee’s CV or Resumé

• Please provide information on the nominee’s education, training, significant projects, exhibits and achievements in their field

Images & Description

• Provide up to 10 high-resolution images of recent work
• For each image uploaded, provide the title, date, medium and a short description

**Please include the image number in the name of the image uploaded** – for example:

• Ann-Smith-image-01
• Ann-Smith-image-02
• Ann Smith-image-03

Additional Materials – optional, but strongly recommended

• Include materials such as the nominee’s biography, letters of support, links* to articles, recorded testimonials, YouTube videos, photos, website links, etc.
• A maximum of five items will be accepted
• Jury members will review up to 10 pages total and five minutes of video

*Each link submitted is considered one additional material.

UPDATING A NOMINATION

To update a nomination:

• Click on the link for the nomination form
• Select ‘yes’ to the question ‘Is this an update to a previous nomination?’
• Include the year the nomination was first submitted
• Complete the online nomination form and include updated information & materials about your nominee

Nominations are valid for three years including the first year of nomination and two subsequent years.

Nominators are strongly encouraged to update their nomination for consideration by the following year’s jury panel if their nominee was not recognized in the previous year’s awardee cohort.

We are happy to send the documents previously submitted for your nominee. Please email rup@bcachievement.com to make your request.

The Award of Distinction is presented to an established artist in recognition of extraordinary and sustained accomplishment in applied art + design. Recipients exemplify committed vision, innovative enterprise, passionate talent, and they are an inspiration to their community and province.

Recipients:

• 2023 Marie Khouri, Public Art
• 2022 Robert Anderson, Stringed Musical Instruments
• 2021 Ann McLaren, Craniofacial Prosthetics
• 2020 Nancy Bryant, Costume Design
• 2019 Gordon Hutchens, Ceramics
• 2018 Bill Pechet, Public Art Design
• 2017 Sam Carter, Exhibition Design
• 2016 Mustang Survival, Industrial Design
• 2015 Arc’teryx, Product Design
• 2014 Judson Beaumont, Furniture Design
• 2013 Wayne Ngan, Ceramics
• 2012 Catherine Regehr, Fashion & Home Design
• 2011 Phil Nuytten, Innovator/Design
• 2010 Doug Simpson, Folding Kayaks
• 2009 Karl Stittgen, Jewellery
• 2008 John Fluevog, Shoe Design
• 2007 Toni Cavelti, Jewellery & Joanna Staniszkis, Textile & Clothing
• 2006 Niels Bendtsen, Furniture Design & Martha Sturdy, Sculpture & Wearable Design

Past Programs