The Centre for Independent Living in Toronto (C.I.L.T.) is proud to announce as part of the 40th anniversary celebrations the inaugural Sandra Carpenter Award for Artists. This award is in honour of Sandra Carpenter, founding executive director of CILT and formidable disability rights activist, with the aim to recognize and celebrate the artistic achievements of artists with disabilities who embody the spirit of the independent living philosophy.
This award will be granted annually by the CILT Board of Directors to one artist with a disability whose submission demonstrates creativity, originality, and a commitment to the values of independent living. The award recipient will receive a cash prize of $1,000 and a certificate of recognition from CILT. If possible, the award recipients’ work will also be displayed on the CILT website.
The Sandra Carpenter Award for Artists joins the CILT Founders’ Award, Helen Henderson Literary Award, and Vic Willi Award for Youth as the slate of award recognitions granted annually by CILT.
For more information about the CILT awards and how to apply, please visit our website: https://cilt.ca/awards/
ABOUT SANDRA
Sandra Carpenter was a prominent figure in the disability rights movement and the independent living movement in Canada. She was born with Spinal Muscular Atrophy and used a wheelchair for most of her life. She was a passionate advocate for the rights and dignity of people with disabilities, and a founding member of CILT, where she served as the Executive Director for 25 years.
Sandra was also a dedicated patron of the arts and supported artists who produced works in various mediums, such as painting, collage, and photography. She saw art as a way of challenging stereotypes and stigma about disability and celebrating the diversity, beauty and challenges of the human experience.
Sandra passed away in 2020 at the age of 64, leaving behind a legacy of activism, art, and inspiration. The Sandra Carpenter Award for Artists was created to honour her memory and to continue her vision of empowering and supporting artists with disabilities.
Please check out CILT’s “Remembering Sandra Carpenter” video for a snapshot of the disability rights pioneer and IL visionary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T1iOLRn0pI8&t=9s
