The following statement was given today in the House of Assembly by the Honourable Andrea Barbour, Minister of Tourism, Culture, Arts and Recreation:

 Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the winners of Newfoundland and Labrador’s annual Arts and Letters Awards.

On April 17, at The Rooms, artists from across the province were recognized, with over $47,000 awarded across literary, music and visual arts categories.

Awards included junior and senior winners, five recipients in the one-time HERSTORY Empowers category and 16 visual artists selected for exhibition.

With 507 entries submitted for the 2026 program, participation was strong and reflected the strength of our arts community.

Speaker, I am also pleased to congratulate Paul Whittle, who received the Percy Janes First Novel Award, the program’s top prize, for his novel Sunflower.

First launched in 1952, the Arts and Letters Awards have long supported both emerging and established artists. The 2027 awards will mark the 75th anniversary of the Arts and Letters Award program. I would like to encourage artists of all ages and at all stages to create works for submission in this significant year.

I encourage members of this Honourable House and the public to visit The Rooms, where the Arts and Letters exhibition will be open to visitors until May 18.

Thank you, Speaker.