The Essor Recognition Awards pay tribute to the dedicated work of teachers and other people in the education system who carry out innovative art projects based on the idea of culture. These projects promote student engagement, perseverance and educational success.

By recognizing projects that are simultaneously educational, artistic and cultural, the Ministère de l’Éducation, the Ministère de la Culture et des Communications and their partner seek to promote:

  • the importance of quality Arts Education
  • instruction enhanced by a cultural approach
  • the excellent work done by schools in partnership with artists, writers and cultural organizations in the various regions of Québec

Awards

This prize is awarded to a project that meets all of the criteria of the Essor Recognition Awards in an exceptional way.

A school that is awarded the Provincial Grand Prize is not eligible for this prize for the following three years.

This prize is awarded to an outstanding project for its markedly strong spirit of collaboration between the school and the cultural community as well as with other partners (associations, municipalities, organizations, private companies, etc.).

This prize is awarded to an outstanding project for its cultural and artistic approach and for the suitable means used to foster cultural awareness in students.

This prize is awarded to an outstanding multidisciplinary or interdisciplinary project for the way it allows students to deepen or acquire their knowledge of pedagogical and cultural content related to the Québec Education Program.

This prize is awarded to a bold and high-quality project that demonstrates outstanding commitment on the part of educators, partners and young people.

This prize is awarded to an outstanding project for the innovation it demonstrates in the arts education provided as well as for the importance it places on the student’s choices and initiatives.

This prize is awarded to a project that promotes the arts and culture and that stands out for its visibility within the school and the community.

This prize is awarded to an outstanding project for the activities it carries out to encourage the students to become involved in matters concerning the environment, social equity and economic efficiency.

To learn more, consult the web page on sustainable development in the school system, available in French.

This prize is awarded to an outstanding project mentored by educators whose commitment to incorporating the rich cultural dimension is fully apparent at every stage of the process.

This prize is awarded to an outstanding project that encourages students to cultivate an open-minded attitude toward social and cultural pluralism.

This prize is awarded to an outstanding project that calls on students to develop a sense of cultural citizenship and to enrich the cultural life of their community.

This prize is awarded to an outstanding project for the vitality of its educational and cultural communities.

Culture in the Schools Prize

This prize is awarded to a project carried out as part of the Schools Host an Artist or Writer component or the Thematic and Interdisciplinarity component of the Culture in the Schools program. This project stands out for several reasons, including its benefits and the collaboration between the school and the cultural partners.

Partner

The awarding of the Essor Recognition Awards is made possible thanks to the contribution of Télé-Québec.

Eligibility

The following groups and organizations may submit a project:

  • a team representing an elementary or secondary school in the public or private sector, or a group of such schools
  • a team representing one or more adult education centres
  • a school service centre or a group of school service centres that has developed an arts or cultural project in collaboration with a school cultural committee
  • a school board or a group of school boards that has developed an arts or cultural project in collaboration with a school cultural committee

The project must meet the following requirements:

  • It must be structured around at least one of the four Arts Education subjects (Drama, Visual Arts, Dance, Music).
  • Its activities must include a significant contribution from the Arts Education teacher and comply with the approach used in teaching the Arts Education subjects in question.
  • It must be carried out during the current school year, mainly during school hours.
  • It must be consistent with the educational orientations and values of the Québec Education Program.
  • It must comply with the provisions of the Copyright Act with respect to the works used in the project.

A school cannot receive more than one award for the same project, even if this project involves different students each year. However, a school can submit a project that builds on the work of a project that previously won a prize, provided that the current project is significantly different. It is therefore the responsibility of the project coordinator to highlight the elements that make the current project stand out in their application package.

Please note that projects funded as part of the Schools Host an Artist or Writer component or the Thematic and Interdisciplinarity component of the Culture in the Schools program are eligible only for the Culture in the Schools prize.

Procedure

Preparation of documents 

The application package must contain:

  1. the duly-completed project submission form (in French only)
  2. at least one of the following types of digital files for presenting the project:
    • one video or audio recording with a maximum length of 5 minutes and a file size no larger than 40MB, or a hyperlink included in the supporting documentation and connecting to a digital recording lasting no longer than 5 minutes
    • a maximum of 4 photographs no larger than 2MB each

The combined file size of the attachments cannot exceed 100MB and must adequately represent the specifics of the subject(s) targeted by the project (for example, a music project should contain a video or audio file).

When supporting documents contain captured images (video clips, photographs, etc.) or an audio clip that makes it possible to identify a student, the project coordinator must ensure that one of the holders of parental authority has been informed and has given consent. 

Supporting Documents

Candidates may submit up to 4 pages of supporting documents, but are not obliged to do so. This information helps the Selection Committee to look at both the process and the quality of the resulting product—that is, if the project was already completed when submitted. The supporting documents could include, for example:

  • documents that show the various steps in the development of the project
  • documents showing the students at work (tape of a rehearsal, final product, etc.)
  • scanned newspaper articles
  • scanned promotional tools
  • any other documents that might be helpful in evaluating the project

Members of the Selection Committee will devote a maximum of five minutes to consulting the supporting documents of each project.

Transmission of the Application Package 

Here are the steps to follow to submit an application package:

  • Save the application form on a computer or digital device. For optimal results, Adobe Reader or Acrobat Pro are recommended.
  • Complete the form, making sure that the final page bears the required signatures.
  • Scan the duly signed last page of the form.
  • Prepare the digital files (photographs, video, audio).
  • Prepare the supporting documents, if applicable.
  • Once the application package is complete, send it using the project submission tool.

This tool can be used only once for each application package. Your application must therefore be complete when you send it.

Selection process

A Screening Committee ensures that the application packages contain all the required documents and meet the eligibility criteria.

A second committee evaluates the applications based on the following criteria:

  • the role of the arts in carrying out the project
  • the relevance of the approach used in teaching each arts subject as it relates to the educational orientations and values promoted in the Arts Education programs
  • the quality of the project and creative process involved
  • the scope of the project, specifically:
    • the number of students involved
    • the number of subjects targeted
    • the duration of the project
    • collaboration by the various resource people in academic, cultural, artistic, family and community environments
  • the originality and innovative quality of the activities included in the project
  • the project’s visibility and its impact on the school community and the community at large, if applicable
  • the inclusion of activities that involve students in a process that reflects the broad principles of sustainable development as they relate to the environment, social equity and economic efficiency

In the spirit of fairness, the dedicated budget and the primary source of funding will be taken into account during the analysis of the submitted projects.

The jury members are drawn from:

  • art teacher associations (individuals take turns representing the four associations involved)
  • the education sector (an Arts Education consultant)
  • the cultural sector
  • the Ministère de l’Éducation
  • the Ministère de la Culture et des Communications