2025 Scholarships & Awards Winners

The Board of Directors for the Red Deer Arts Council are thrilled to announce the winners of the 2025 Scholarship program for the Red Deer Arts Council. We are so happy to have been able to host our Award event on Wednesday, June 25, 2025 at the Red Deer Arts Council office.

We want to acknowledge our scholarship committee volunteers who help develop the program each year, and to our jury members for giving their time and consideration in evaluating your submissions.

The Princess Margaret Scholarship

Awarded to Ashaya Hargreaves

Ian Warwick- Ashaya Hargreaves- Ken Johnston

Ashaya is a painting, drawing and ceramics artist from here in Alberta. Starting at a young age, her commissions and self driven pieces blend themes of humor and animals, regardless pf the chosen medium. She hopes to have her own studio in the future after wrapping up the Visual Arts Diploma program at Red Deer Polytechnic. Ashaya's submission contained multiple different mediums: oil, graphite, porcelain and ink. The jurors loved it, noting her masterful blend between humor and style, as well as commending her confidence looking towards her future as an artist. Congratulations Ashaya!

The Canada Centennial Scholarship for Secondary Students

Awarded to Kayden Fredeen

Annie Burik- Kayden Fredeen

Kayden is a digital artist from Red Deer who recently graduated from Hunting Hills Highschool. His esrly art forms stemmed from LEGOs which allowed him to channel his creativity and fuel his fascination with the visual world. He is excited to be pursuing a Bachelor of Design at MacEwan University this fall, where he will get to expand his skills within his medium, which he describes as having "infinite scalability and precision." Kayden's submission contained digital arts pieces through illustrator and photographs that the jury described as "lovely, strong and evocative images with dynamic composition." The jury also admired his commitment into developing his artistic prowess as well as his drive and goal awareness. Congratulations Kayden!

The Emerging Artist Award

Awarded to Kerry Tronnes

Kristina Miko- Kerry Tronnes

Kerry Tronnes' expertise lies in ceramics, having set up a home studio in 2020 and pursuing post-secondary education in the arts. She now works out of Flux Studio, a semi-private ceramics studio out of Red Deer, and is continuously pushing the boundaries of ceramic surface design to master her craft. The jurors commend Kerry on her depth of research, complex chemistry as well as her strong work, drive and promise. Congratulations Kerry!

The Artwalk Developing Visual Artist Award

Awarded to Andrea Swainson

Ula-Erin Chauvet -Andrea Swainson

Andrea Swainson is an Edmonton born, Red Deer raised artist with a background in Human Social Development. As a part of her degree, she took art classes and promised herself to pursue further education within it as soon as she could. As a recent graduate of the Visual Arts Diploma program at Red Deer Polytechnic, Andrea has studied drawing, painting, sculpture work, printmaking, and ceramics. Now, as a prolific multimedium artist, she is ever grateful for opportunities to learn, create and show art. The jury commended Andrea on her deft hand and adept understanding of multiple different mediums. Congratulations Andrea!

The Diane Hermary Volunteer Spirit Award

Awarded to Diana Anderson

Janice Armstrong -Diana Anderson- Scott Barnabe

Diana, throughout more than 30 years as a visual arts curator, her unwavering commitment and passion has enriched our local cultural landscape. Her extensive volunteer work with so many more local and provincial organizations, and her leadership has inspired countless individuals and has played a vital role in nurturing the next generation of artists and arts advocates. We are grateful that she has shared her knowledge and skills with our future generations of staff and volunteers. In the words of her nominator, Janice, "Diana has proven to be a wealth of information for artists, and her love of the arts is amazing. She has worked very hard as a volunteer and put many hours in which she has found both empowering and satisfying." Congratulations Diana!