The Governor General’s Performing Arts Award for Lifetime Artistic Achievement is given to established Canadian artists who have made a marked contribution to the performing arts in Canada, and in some cases, internationally, and have developed a significant body of work.

The awards are conferred in the following five categories:

• Broadcasting / Film

• Classical Music

• Dance

• Popular Music

• Theatre

Each recipient receives a cash award of $25,000 provided by the Canada Council for the Arts and a commemorative medallion provided by the Royal Canadian Mint.

Professional artists who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada and who have achieved a major, influential body of work can be nominated. The Foundation defines a professional artist as someone who has specialized training in the field (not necessarily obtained in academic institutions), who is recognized as such by his or her peers (artists working in the same artistic discipline), and who has a history of public presentation.

Tip: Visit the Award Recipients page to get an overview of those who have been honoured in the past. This is a good guideline to determine whether your favourite artist is eligible.

Members of the boards of the following organizations are NOT eligible to receive an award in any year during which they are actively serving on the board:

• The Governor General’s Performing Arts Awards Foundation
• The National Arts Centre
• The National Arts Centre Foundation
• The Canada Council for the Arts
• The National Film Board of Canada

Note: Candidates may not themselves apply for the Awards; they must be nominated.

As indicated above, the categories of broadcasting and film have been combined into one category encompassing all types of screens and broadcast. As such, the term "broadcasting" is still appropriate in the context of the Awards.

The Governor General's Performing Arts Awards are dedicated to celebrating Canadians who have changed the face of the performing arts in Canada or abroad. The principal assessment criterion for the Lifetime Artistic Achievement Award is the quality, extent and originality of the contribution by the nominee(s) to the performing arts in Canada, or through shining a spotlight on Canadian talent abroad.

In the category of Broadcasting / Film, candidates for the Governor General's Performing Arts Awards can be actors, producers, TV personalities, directors and those in the broadcasting distribution sector.

• Providing personal, selfless involvement and expertise over a substantial period of time, while displaying passionate love for and support of the performing arts in settings that may be large or small, rural or urban 
•  Being a role model and inspiration in voluntarism 
• Displaying generosity and/or providing sustained financial support in the service of a community, a company or various arts initiatives

Tip: Visit Award Recipients to get an overview of those who have been honoured in the past. This is a good guideline to determine whether your favourite volunteer is eligible.

Members of the boards of the following organizations are NOT eligible to receive an award in any year during which they are actively serving on the board:

• The Governor General’s Performing Arts Awards Foundation
• The National Arts Centre
• The National Arts Centre Foundation
• The Canada Council for the Arts
• The National Film Board of Canada 

Note: Candidates may not themselves apply for the Awards; they must be nominated.

Anyone can make a nomination. We are delighted to receive nominations from anyone around the world who enjoys and take an interest in Canada's performing artists.

A complete nomination must be submitted to the Foundation by completing the online form, by mail, email or fax. If submitting your nomination by email, please forward all required documents as attachments with your cover message. A complete nomination package consists of three parts:

1. The nomination form. You must fully complete the proper nomination form and include it in your package. If you do not have contact information for the nominee, please leave the line blank.

2. The supporting statement. OPTIONAL. You may provide a description of why you are nominating this individual or group.

3. The biography. Please provide biographical details about the nominee. Materials sourced online are acceptable. Sample biography.

Additional letters of support are not required and will not be submitted to the juries.

Submissions provided in both official languages (English and French) are greatly appreciated.

Important to note: Incomplete nominations will not be submitted for consideration. Materials must not be bound (e.g., stapled, Cerlox or spiral bound) to ensure ease of copying. Please note that the Foundation will not return any submitted materials.

All Award nomination documentation submitted becomes the property of the Foundation and, except for personal information protected by the Privacy Act, may be used in any publicity or promotion accompanying the Awards.

All eligible nominations will be reviewed by peer assessment juries selected each year by the Governor General's Performing Arts Awards Foundation.

The juries are composed of experienced performing arts professionals—performing artists, managers, impresarios, directors, teachers, critics, producers, and other appropriate peers—selected by the Foundation for their expertise in each discipline. Members are also chosen to ensure fair representation of the two official languages, gender and the various regions and cultures of Canada, as well as the various disciplines and artistic practices within the performing arts.

Each jury makes recommendations for the final selection of the recipients. The Board of Directors of the Governor General's Performing Arts Awards Foundation makes the final selection of the recipients. All decisions of the Board are final.

Juries and Foundation Board members will have the following points in mind when reviewing the nominations for Lifetime Artistic Achievement Awards:

• The excellence of the nominee's work, covering all aspects of artistic quality, creativity, innovation, and technical mastery.
• The quality of the candidate’s contribution to the development of the performing arts in Canada and to the cultural life of Canada or to bringing Canadian artistic excellence to the attention of communities abroad.

The principal criterion for assessing nominations for the Ramon John Hnatyshyn Award for Voluntarism in the Performing Arts is:

• The quality and scope of the voluntary contribution made by the nominee(s) to the performing arts in Canada over an extended period.

The Foundation contacts the recipients privately to confirm their acceptance. The names of the recipients are kept strictly confidential until the official announcement in the spring.

The recipients are required to participate fully in all Award activities, including ceremonies, receptions, and other related events, and to make themselves available to the media for interviews.

Recipients must allow photographs and public information about themselves to be used in promoting the Awards and in other Foundation/ National Arts Centre promotional initiatives. Portraits of the recipients may be displayed at the National Arts Centre and elsewhere.

The names of the recipients are first revealed in a news release and on social media. Recipients are honoured first through the announcement at which their selection is revealed to the media and the general public. They are also honoured throughout a special Gala Awards weekend, held in the spring. See Celebrations for details.