The City of Fredericton established the Arts Achievement Awards in 2017 to recognize and celebrate outstanding achievement and excellence in, or contribution to, the arts and cultural landscape of Fredericton.
The juried award is presented to individuals, organizations and/or businesses in all areas of the arts. Up to three awards are presented at a reception held every two years.
2026 Recipients
Left to right: Nadia Khoury, Mayor Rogers, Germaine Pataki-Thériault (photo credit: Rob Blanchard)
Jury Statement
It has been said that artists can die of exposure. There are innumerable opportunities for artists to show their work for free, but a sustained commitment to building careers and enabling artists to make a living is something rarer. But that is exactly the commitment that the two recipients of this year's arts achievements awards have displayed, shoring up a key part of Fredericton's visual arts ecosystem. Germaine Pataki-Theriault of Gallery 78, and Nadia Khoury of Gallery on Queen, are the driving forces behind Fredericton's two most important commercial art galleries. Community building takes many forms. Pataki and Khoury foster and mentor artists at early stages of their careers, and remain committed, encouraging them throughout the long, hard career of an artist. Serious entrepreneurs, pioneering business owners, and dedicated volunteers, Pataki-Theriault and Khoury are exemplary women who well deserve this accolade.
Germaine Pataki-Thériault
When one considers the richness and vibrancy of Fredericton’s visual arts community, it would be very different were it not for the foundational support of Germaine Pataki-Thériault.
Germaine has been a cornerstone of Fredericton’s arts community for decades. Through her leadership of Gallery 78, Germaine has made an extraordinary and sustained contribution to our city’s cultural landscape, shaping not only how art is experienced in our region, but also how artists are supported and celebrated across Atlantic Canada.
Building on the business founded in 1976 by her parents James and Inge Pataki, Germaine took over the gallery 20 years ago and has seen it thrive as a family enterprise that now boasts a third generation: Germaine’s daughters Sophie and Véronique continue the Pataki tradition of being Fredericton art ambassadors to the world.
Germaine’s care and loyalty for her artists and clients is renowned, as is her commitment to giving her time and talent to so many of our arts and cultural groups – often working in the background. She has served on the board of the Fredericton Playhouse, Symphony New Brunswick, the Fredericton Community Foundation, the Atlantic Ballet Theatre of Canada, Downtown Fredericton Inc., Dance Fredericton, and others. Where does she get the energy?
A genuinely hospitable spirit is always present in her gallery, where art and the public regularly meet (along with a full jar of complimentary Swiss chocolates next to the entry). She is also committed to maintaining the life and character of their historic 1899 building known as “Crockett House,” a Victorian gem which she has lovingly restored. Germaine has ensured that Gallery 78 is more than a gallery—it is a true community space. For decades, it has hosted concerts, fundraisers, readings, celebrations, and milestones, becoming woven into our personal and cultural lives. Her deep commitment to downtown vibrancy, local business, and community engagement reflects a belief that the arts are not separate from daily life, but essential to it.
As an arts advocate, a consummate professional, and a friendly face at all times, Germaine has made Fredericton a better place to live, work, and play because of her extraordinary leadership and selfless dedication.
Nominated by Wayne Burley, and supported with letters by John Leroux, Tim Yerxa, Adda Mihailescu, and Adam Peabody
Nadia Khoury
Nadia Khoury immigrated from her beloved Lebanon to Fredericton in 1977, and the city has certainly been more awake ever since. She is a loyal friend, is devoted to the visual arts, and works in overdrive to promote us all. For 40 years our city has been the beneficiary of Nadia's extraordinary gifts in energizing arts and culture, making them accessible to all – whether at her gallery, as VP of Culture Plus, Chair of the NB Foundation for the Arts, fundraiser for the Beaverbrook Art Gallery, co-chair of Culture Days NB, on the Steering Committee of the Jeunesse Musicale Gala, or the board of the Fredericton Botanic Garden Association.
While Nadia’s cultural commitment goes back decades, it is no exaggeration to say it exploded when she established Gallery on Queen in the centre of Downtown Fredericton in 2016. When tourists and local visitors enter her gallery, everyone is treated with dignity, care, and attention, and they leave richer for the experience.
Nadia has outdone herself in giving the often marginalized a place to raise their creative voices to the world. She has been exemplary in supporting exhibition opportunities for Black New Brunswick artists, contemporary Indigenous artists, fine crafters, young emerging creators, and members of the LGBTQ+ community. She carries their work with respect and extends its reach to wider audiences in ways that center the artists and sustain their voices. Her style is grounded in long-term professional relationships rather than gesture. Always inclusive, she has created opportunities for artists to expose their talents in centres such Toronto, Chicago, London, England, and beyond.
Her friend Susan Richardson recalls: Over the years, I have witnessed many facets of Nadia Khoury, but one certainly stands out: Her kindness. Whether she’s helping a newcomer to the city, connecting with someone to discuss job prospects, volunteering for local causes, or simply NOT judging when an artist delivers their work… in a PIZZA box. Nadia remains serene, composed, and caring – as always. Nadia Khoury’s achievement lies not only in what she has built, but in how she has chosen to build it. She has created a space defined by generosity, discernment, and responsibility, one that has strengthened artists and enriched the cultural life of the community.
Nominated by Roslyn Rosenfeld, and supported with letters by Yalda Bozorg, Vera Zarowsky, Susan Richardson, and Adam Peabody