Lederman gets the Wyman
May 01st, 2024
Arts and culture writer and author, Marsha Lederman (at right), has been awarded the 2024 Wyman Critical Writing prize.
As part of the Max Wyman award, Lederman’s choice for mentee is emerging writer and designer, Ming Wong.
Lederman is a distinguished journalist and author and an integral part of The Globe and Mail since 2007. For 15 years, she held the role of Western Arts Correspondent, providing coverage on a wide array of cultural topics including visual art, theatre, music, dance, literature, film and architecture. Transitioning to a full-time columnist for the newspaper in 2022, she maintains her passion for writing about arts and culture while bringing her insightful commentary to a broader range of subjects.
Her memoir, Kiss the Red Stairs: The Holocaust, Once Removed (McClelland & Stewart $24.00) intertwines Holocaust survival, intergenerational trauma, divorce and personal discovery. Prompted by a childhood question about her lack of grandparents due to the Holocaust, Lederman embarks on a journey to understand her family’s history and its impact on her life. With deep research, raw emotion and a focus on family and motherhood, the book offers compelling narratives with empathy, humor and profound insight. Kiss the Red Stairs was a national bestseller and won the Western Canada Jewish Book Award for biography or memoir in 2023.
This is what the jury had to say about the author: “Marsha Lederman has made significant contributions to the field of journalism and literature through her extensive writings on social issues seen through the lens of arts and culture and social justice. The jury is unanimous in its appreciation of her ability to engage and inspire her readers, through lively and accessible writing that opens eyes and minds to fresh insights and creative thinking.”
Ming Wong
Ming Wong is an art director, graphic designer and journalist at The Globe and Mail, where she produces and edits visually-driven stories for print, online, social and beyond. “I began working with Ming Wong as a mentor in 2022,” says Lederman. “She was particularly interested in writing about pop culture. And she has been fantastic, showing enormous creativity, drive and dedication as a writer. She is curious and smart, and writes interesting, intelligent and highly readable pieces about popular culture from her millennial perch. I can’t wait to read more from Ming over the years.”
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ABOUT THE AWARD
The award was established in 2017 by philanthropist Yosef Wosk to honour the career and lifetime contributions of the Vancouver author, arts critic and commentator Max Wyman. It recognizes writers who have amassed a significant body of work. Eligible subjects of criticism include the visual arts, architecture and design, theatre, literature, dance, music, film and television, as well as more general cultural commentary. The winner receives a prize of $5,000 and a gold and emerald pin designed by Vancouver artist, Robert Chaplin. A mentee, named by the Laureate, receives a $1,000 prize.
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