MASC Arts Awards

Monday, January 19, 2026

Nominations are now open! Do you know a passionate, creative student in Grades 6–8 who lives for the arts? Someone who would flourish with extra support to develop their creativity beyond the classroom? Nominate them for the 2026 MASC Arts Awards and give them the chance to win a year-long scholarship in music, dance, theatre, visual arts, or literary arts with one of Ottawa’s leading arts organizations. Five nominating teachers will receive a free workshop for their classroom!

What Students Can Win

Winners of the MASC Arts Awards receive year-long scholarships to study their chosen art form with top organizations such as:

Allegro Music School
Ottawa School of Art
The School of Dance
Ottawa Children’s Theatre
Literary Arts Mentorship – One-on-one mentorship with a professional author

In addition, three students will be honoured with special literary awards:

The Jennifer Cayley Award
The Jan Andrews Literary Award
The Molly Ellens Award

Why Nominate?

Since 1999, the MASC Arts Awards have celebrated the extraordinary creativity of Ottawa’s youth. For many students, this is their very first chance to receive professional arts training, mentorship, and recognition for their passion.

This gala event, held at the National Arts Centre, gives students the opportunity to:

Be honoured on stage in front of peers, teachers, and family
Connect with other young artists in the community
Gain access to resources and opportunities that can shape their artistic journey

And teachers benefit too: Five nominating teachers will receive a free MASC workshop for their classroom.

Eligibility Criteria?

Students nominated must:

Demonstrate an exceptional passion for the arts
Have had limited opportunities for arts education beyond the school setting
Live in the National Capital Region

How to Nominate

Complete the Nomination Form by January 19, 2026.
Share why your student deserves this opportunity.
Join us in April at the National Arts Centre to celebrate the winners at the 2026 MASC Arts Awards Gala.

Nominate your student today and give them the chance to shine, grow, and create with Ottawa’s finest artists.

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What people are saying

When I initially entered, I hadn’t been feeling very confident about my writing – but knowing that I won an award for something that I’d written, helped me realize that I do have potential… It’s a huge honour.

— Kailey Rennals, 2019 Winner of the Jan Andrews Literary Award

I think [the winners] will receive some very unique opportunities to learn how to express themselves creatively they wouldn’t otherwise cross paths with.

— Candice Bruchauser, 2001 MASC Arts Award Winner & 2015 Jennifer Cayley Award Winner

Those skills that you learn through the arts… [it’s] a different way of engaging with humanity and society that you can apply to whatever it is that you’re doing.

— Stefan Keyes, 2000 Winner of the Theatre Award

Writing hasn't just been weaved into my life, it's been the driving factor behind most things. I don't go more than two days without writing something, or I feel like something is off kilter. Who knows if I'd still be at it, if you hadn't believed in me then. I have no idea what my life would look like otherwise. You really did just hand over a box of absolute happiness, faith, and opportunity, to a thirteen year old on the cusp of discovering something really incredible. The night of the MASC Arts Awards event, I told my parents, "I feel like an empty glass and tonight was just a jug of happiness being poured in until it overflowed." What a gift.

— Leticia Alvarez, 2013 Winner of the Literary Arts Award, Mentorship with Frances Itani