Honouring High Achievers in the Arts

Presented in partnership with artsnb

There are few better demonstrations of New Brunswick’s extraordinary cultural strength than the Lieutenant Governor’s Awards for High Achievement in the Arts, the province’s most prestigious recognition of artistic excellence.

On November 7, 2026, artists, cultural leaders and invited guests will gather at Government House in Fredericton for a gala hosted by the Honourable Louise Imbeault, Lieutenant Governor of New Brunswick. The celebration will honour four remarkable recipients: Dyane Léger, Carol Collicutt, Diane Losier and Shane Perley-Dutcher.

Presented every two years, the awards recognize outstanding achievement in four distinct categories: Literary Arts, Visual Arts, Performing Arts and Indigenous Art. Together, this year’s recipients reveal the depth, range and vitality of New Brunswick’s creative culture.

Literary Arts Award: Dyane Léger

Dyane Léger’s career is defined by a rare and fearless creative freedom. A pioneering voice in Acadian literature, she has built a remarkable body of work across poetry, fiction and visual art. Her writing is celebrated for its imaginative language, emotional force and refusal to be contained by convention.

Across decades of practice, Léger has helped expand the possibilities of Acadian expression while opening doors for those who followed. Her work carries a distinctive sense of place, memory and transformation, moving fluidly between the intimate and the universal.

Visual Arts Award: Carol Collicutt

For more than five decades, Carol Collicutt has been an integral presence in New Brunswick’s visual arts community. Her practice is grounded in curiosity and experimentation, with work that embraces drawing, painting, sculpture, installation and photography.

Collicutt’s art often begins with close attention to materials and the natural world. Organic forms, woven structures and unexpected surfaces become a way to explore vulnerability, resilience and the relationship between body and environment. Her influence extends beyond the studio through years of mentorship, teaching and community involvement.

Performing Arts Award: Diane Losier

Few performers possess Diane Losier’s range or enduring commitment to Acadian theatre. Her career encompasses acting, directing and creation, with work that has reached audiences across New Brunswick, Canada and beyond.

Losier brings emotional precision, generosity and unmistakable presence to the stage. Whether interpreting established work or helping create something new, she has contributed to the growth of francophone theatre and inspired generations of artists and audiences.

Indigenous Artist Award: Shane Perley-Dutcher

A silversmith and artist from Neqotkuk First Nation, Shane Perley-Dutcher has developed a practice grounded in Wolastoqey knowledge, cultural continuity and respect for the natural world. His work brings ancestral techniques into conversation with contemporary design.

Through jewellery, sculpture and teaching, Perley-Dutcher creates objects of exceptional craftsmanship and meaning. His practice strengthens cultural connections while making space for new generations of Indigenous artists to learn, experiment and carry knowledge forward.

The 2026 recipients join an extraordinary group of artists whose work has shaped the province and carried New Brunswick stories far beyond its borders. Their achievements are individual, but the celebration is collective: a portrait of a creative community strengthened by courage, imagination and sustained commitment.