2026 Winifred Shantz Award for Ceramics
Call for Applications
Deadline: Received electronically by Sunday, January 25, 2026 at 11:59pm EST.
The Winifred Shantz Award for Ceramics is a national award for emerging ceramic artists with $18,000 in prizes available. Thanks to the ongoing partnership between the Keith and Winifred Shantz Fund for the Arts, held at Waterloo Region Community Foundation, and the Canadian Clay & Glass Gallery, this award is presented annually to a practising emerging artist who has worked professionally for five to ten years as of the deadline date. Professional practice typically begins upon completion of a college or bachelor’s degree in ceramics. If alternate circumstances apply, demonstrate how you identify as an emerging artist in the cover letter portion of the application. The Award is intended to allow the artist to undertake a period of independent research or other activities with the goal of advancing their artistic and professional practice.
The winner of the Winifred Shantz Award for Ceramics will receive $10,000. One runner-up will receive a prize of $5,000. Up to 3 finalists will also be selected who will each receive a prize of $1,000. The winner, runner-up, and finalists will have their work featured in a group exhibition at the Canadian Clay & Glass Gallery in 2026. Prizes are inclusive of CARFAC exhibition fees. The Gallery also purchases an artwork by the winner and runner-up for the Permanent Collection each year.
The Award will be presented at the opening reception, held at the Gallery in Waterloo. The tentative date for this reception is Sunday, May 31, 2026, at 2:00pm. Transportation and accommodation will be provided to the winner, as required. To be eligible for the Award, applicants must be available to attend the reception, tentatively scheduled for May 31, and be prepared to make a brief artist talk should they win the award. The winner and finalists will be notified in early March.
About the Winifred Shantz Award for Ceramics
The Winifred Shantz Award for Ceramics is presented annually by the Canadian Clay & Glass Gallery and is supported by the Keith and Winifred Shantz Fund for the Arts, held at Waterloo Region Community Foundation. With $18,000 in prizes presented each year, this prestigious award allows practising early-career ceramic artists to undertake a period of independent research or other activities that advance their artistic and professional practice. The winner of the Winifred Shantz Award for Ceramics receives $10,000 and one of their artworks is acquired for the Gallery’s Permanent Collection. One runner-up will receive a prize of $5,000. Up to 3 finalists will also be selected, each receiving a $1,000 prize. Each summer, the winners and finalists of the Winifred Shantz Award for Ceramics and RBC Award for Glass will have their work presented in an awards exhibition held at the Gallery.
Past recipients of the award truly represent the best of the emerging ceramic artists in Canada. Sami Tsang of Toronto, Ontario was the winner of the 2025 Winifred Shantz Award for Ceramics. Click here to learn more about the winners of the award in past years.
About Winifred Shantz
The late Winifred Shantz was a driving force for the arts in Waterloo Region for more than 40 years. Her philanthropy, dedication, and passion for the arts is what allows many local cultural institutions to thrive – including the Canadian Clay & Glass Gallery – through a legacy of support. A successful ceramist, entrepreneur, and ardent supporter of the arts, Winifred, along with her husband Keith Shantz, were integral in the founding of the Canadian Clay & Glass Gallery and have enabled the Winifred Shantz Award for Ceramics to continue in perpetuity.
About Waterloo Region Community Foundation
Waterloo Region Community Foundation (WRCF) collaborates with partners to create sustainable, equitable and thriving communities. We connect regionally and locally, working with three cities and four townships – to include the people and places across our region. Together, we develop forward-thinking innovative solutions and seize opportunities to meet current and future needs of our community. We make philanthropy easy for individuals and companies to support organizations and issues they care about. WRCF is focused on Granting, Impact Investing and Convening to make measurable and sustainable impacts. Gifts are directed to WRCF’s endowed funds that drive positive change through grants with the income generated being distributed in partnership with Fundholders to support a wide range of charitable causes within our community. A portion of the endowed funds are also used for impact investments that deliver both financial returns as well as positive social or environmental outcomes. As a leading community-building organization we also work to amplify voices and issues of importance by convening conversations and sharing information, while approaching our work with an equity mindset. www.wrcf.ca
Past Winifred Shantz Award for Ceramics Brochures
Contact:
For additional information, contact Peter Flannery, Senior Curator & Collections Manager: 519.746.1882 x235 or peter@theclayandglass.ca.