Marie Manson lived and worked in the Shuswap until her death. The Marie Manson Memorial Arts Award was set up in 1981 by her friends and family to honour the memory of this talented and versatile artist and craftsperson.
Marie worked in oils, block-printing, weaving, pencil and charcoal. Over the years, the Award has assisted close to 40 artists. Many individuals have benefited from it including well-known artists such as Chris Cran, Chris Czajkowski, Steve Mennie and Gail Anderson-Dargatz. Trustees of the Award are planning for their 25th anniversary in 2006. A show and sale of some paintings by Marie plus some newly-donated work by family members will take place in the spring or summer of 2006 at the SAGA Public Art Gallery in Salmon Arm.
The Marie Manson Memorial Arts Award is open to serious artists in all fields who have a connection with the Shuswap. The fund is administered by the Shuswap Community Foundation and dispersed by a group of five trustees. Approximately 500 is awarded to one or two artists in early summer each year.
