Photo 1: Installation view of Lost and Found, Varley Art Gallery of Markham (by Toni Hafkenscheid); Photo 2: Artists Holly Ward and Kevin Schmidt (photo by Jennifer Latour) and Yan Wu (photo by Laura Findlay); Photo 3: Lost and Found Rouge Valley Trail activation. 

A public art project by artists Holly Ward and Kevin Schmidt (MVS 2022), a graduate of the Master of Visual Studies in studio art in the John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape and Design, has received an Impact Award from the Creative City Network of Canada (CCNC). Their project was curated by Yan Wu (MVS 2015), a graduate of the Master of Visual Studies in curatorial studies and a current PhD student at the Daniels Faculty.  

CCNC supports the advancement of cultural policy, planning and practice at the municipal level. Each year, its Impact Awards recognize Canadian municipalities for exceptional contributions to cultural programming.

Ward and Schmidt’s Lost and Found, received the Sustainability Award for public art. Working in collaboration with over 30 local musicians and community organizations, participating artists engaged in reciprocal processes of co-creation with community members, facilitating an accessible introduction to contemporary artistic practices. The project publication was designed by graphic designer and undergraduate student Mark Bennett (BAAS 2027), which received the Galeries Ontario / Ontario Galleries (GOG) 2024 Best Art Book Design Award.

Wu, City of Markham’s public art curator, also received the 2025 Changemaker BIPOC Award from GOG for her general practice as a public art curator, including Lost and Found at Rouge Valley Trail and the Varley Art Gallery of Markham.

“Kevin’s artistic achievement, together with Yan’s curatorial leadership, highlights how our graduate students are shaping inclusive and sustainable artistic practices,” said Professor Gareth Long, visual studies program director. “Their work on Lost and Found is a powerful example of art’s ability to connect people. On behalf of the Daniels Faculty, we congratulate them both on their recognition.”

The awardees were recognized at the 2025 Creative City Impact Awards during the 21st annual Creative City Summit in Kingston. ON.