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# I would not paint the way that I paint if I wasn’t born with a disability
- URL: https://www.creativeconnector.art/wed-8/
- Published: 2023-11-08T13:00:21.000Z
- Updated: 2023-11-08T13:00:20.000Z
- Description: Announcing the first recipient of the Won Lee Prize.
- Author: Creative Connector
- Tags: Blog, Culture

**Today's read**

> I would not paint the way that I paint if I wasn’t born with a disability. My perspective is informed by it

Athena Cooper is the first recipient to be selected by a national jury and is awarded the annual Won Lee Prize of $3,000.

The Won Lee Prize was formed last year in partnership between the [National AccessArts Centre](https://accessarts.ca/?ref=creativeconnector.art) and the Won Lee Endowment Fund to celebrate the late Canadian disabled artist Won Lee.

**For artists living in Toronto**, stay tuned because the partnership is also working towards opening a new gallery space and artist-in-residence studio at 1594 Queen Street West to support artists with disabilities.

[Athena Cooper awarded the inaugural Won Lee PrizeOctober 11, 2023 Calgary-based artist Athena Cooper awarded the inaugural Won Lee Prize Administered by the National accessArts Centre, it is the largest cash prize awarded to a Canadian artist living with a disability TORONTO – The National accessArts Centre (NaAC), Canada’s largest \[…\]![](https://accessarts.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/naAC-favicon.png)naAC-logo-new-sm![](https://accessarts.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/AthenaCooper_TrustySteed_300dpi-scaled.jpg)](https://accessarts.ca/athena-cooper-awarded-the-inaugural-won-lee-prize/?ref=creativeconnector.art)

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