The Frankly Bob Awards for outstanding visual arts and literary work.

The Neighborhood Innovations Fund in partnership with the Toronto Dollar is requesting submissions for the second annual Frankly Bob Arts Awards for people who have experienced homelessness or long term poverty. Named after Bob Lothian, the first "mayor" of Toronto's Street City, an experiment in housing homeless people, Bob was greatly respected for his leadership and support to his peers. Bob encouraged many people to explore their creative spirit. The Frankly Bob Arts Awards, honors the often-unrecognized achievements in the visual and written arts. This year, the Frankly Bob awards will include an award for music, a Toronto Dollar award for a musician who is a long term survivor of poverty sponsored by the Lowthian family. See the trophy this year donated by the Lowthian family below and click on it to see it larger. Read a story about Frank Roberts Lowthian.

These awards have revealed the remarkable talent, wisdom and sensitivity of so many people confronting struggles with poverty. The award is a tribute to all of those courageous individuals and is dedicated to Frankly Bob, a person who believed in the infinite talent and resourcefulness of people surviving on the margins of our society. We are grateful for everyone’s past contributions and all involved have been profoundly affected. It is a dramatic reminder of the value of every human being.

Submission Deadline: Both visual and literary entries were Tuesday March 15, or Thursday March 17th , 2005 between 10:30am and 2:30pm at: Try again next year.

Homes for Creative Opportunity at 237 Sackville St. (near Dundas).

For information about the 2005 awards email franklybob@torontodollar.com .

Awards will be given in the categories of visual and written arts, and starting in 2005, for music , by the MC James Harbeck.Visual arts include paintings, photography, sculpture and other creative visual arts. Written arts include poetry, and both fiction and non-fiction prose. All submissions were recent works created within the last 2-3 years and clearly labeled with the artist’s name and contact information.

Only one submission per person was accepted in each category. Community agencies were requested to solicit and collect works from their members.

Eligibility: The awards are open to any individual who has experienced homelessness or long-term poverty and lives within the boundaries of the City of Toronto. There is no word count specified and no cost to submit.

Frankly Bob Archives

2005 Recipients

First Place- Deb Sharpe (Dif) for "title" (READ IT NOW >>)

The 2005 Jurors were Robert Priest, Marguerite Andersen, and Paul Savoie.

Prizes for each category are: $300 first place, $150 for second place
and 2 $50 honorable mentions.

Donations to the Neighborhood Innovations Fund to support the Frankly Bob Arts Award can be made through the Toronto Community Foundation. Tax receipts will be issued. Winners 2002