Eva Cairns Wins Rozsa Award For Innovation
Edmonton Journal 2011

The Rozsa Innovation Award went to Eva Cairns, managing producer of Edmonton's Catalyst Theatre, which created the hit shows Frankenstein, Nevermore and most recently, Hunchback, seen at the Citadel Theatre last winter.

Cairns, who became Catalyst's managing producer in 2007, was selected by the Rozsa Foundation jury because of her ability to retire the company's sizable deficit during a period of renewal and increase that saw a huge jump in both attendance and quality performance activity at the theatre.

In the words of the citation accompanying the innovationaward, Cairns "has been responsible for accessing new sources of funding for each Catalyst production, increasing remuneration for performers, and guaranteeing effective 'launching pads' for each new work, all at minimum financial risk."

Recipient of the 2011 Rozsa Award for Excellence in Arts Management was Marilyn Smith, director of the Southern Alberta Art Gallery in Lethbridge.

Nine candidates were in the running for two Alberta-wide awards, which are valued at more than $100,000.

Among other things, the jury commendation for Smith praised her strong leadership in strengthening awareness of the gallery — a recently renovated facility focused on contemporary art — "by significantly increasing its role in the daily lives of thousands of children and adults."

Attached to the Excellence and Innovation awards are numerous benefits and professional development opportunities made available through the University of Calgary's Haskayne School of Business (Edmonton recipients receive similar enhancement packages through the University of Alberta); the national accounting firm, Deloitte and Touche; CKUA; Framework Partners Inc.; and the Banff Centre.

"Those are the things we can't afford to do as a non-profit organization, but which are essential for our growth," said Smith.

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