Congratulations to Barry Ace, who has been awarded the King Charles III Coronation Medal for his longstanding contribution to Indigenous art.

The medal commemorates the coronation King Charles III, and is administered by the Chancellery of Honours at Rideau Hall. Recipients of the medal must have made a significant contribution to Canada or to a particular province, territory, region or community of Canada, or have made an outstanding achievement abroad that brings credit to Canada.

Barry Ace has worked in the milieu of visual, literary and performing arts for over 30 years. He was Lecturer with the University of Sudbury in the Indigenous Studies Program. Ace also served as Chief Curator with the Indigenous Art Centre (CIRNAC). Ace’s team won the Deputy Minister’s Outstanding Achievement Award for a groundbreaking artist-in-residence program. In 2006, Ace co-founded and was inaugural Director of the Indigenous Curatorial Collective, an incorporated national non-profit arts service organization in support of the Indigenous critical and curatorial communities.

Over his longstanding career Ace, has provided demonstrable support and guidance to the development of the Indigenous arts in Canada and has participated on advisory committees and boards; presented at conference and colloquia; written and published numerous essays on Indigenous art and artists; curated many Indigenous group and solo exhibitions; and adjudicated individual and organization operating grants for the Manitoba Arts Council, Saskatchewan Arts Council, City of Ottawa-Carleton, Ontario Arts Council and the Canada Council for the Arts. As a full-time practicing visual artist, Ace continues to exhibit internationally in group and solo exhibitions and remains a strong advocate for Indigenous arts in Canada and abroad.

As a nominating partner to the Governor General’s office, the Indigenous Curatorial Collective (ICCA) submitted 20 nominees for the King Charles III Coronation Medal.

Barry Ace's site