This award is 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. Current employees of CILT cannot apply.
SUBMISSION DEADLINE: The deadline has passed. Stay tuned for updates on next year’s callout.
About Sandra Carpenter:
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.
The inaugural Sandra Carpenter Award for Artists was awarded in 2025.
Past recipients of the award are:
Robaba Mohammadi – 2025
