Clear your schedules, art lovers: on May 9, 2013, at Hammerson Hall in the Living Arts Centre, the Mississauga Arts Council’s MARTY Awards will return for their 19th annual celebration of the City’s art stars, both those on the rise and those burning brightly.

Past winners have included Amanda Cleghorn, runner-up finalist for So You Think You Can Dance Canada (Emerging Performing Arts Award winner), and the JUNO-nominated Johnny Max Band (Established Performing Arts Group winners).

With a new year comes a fresh spin on the proceedings: the 2013 show will be hosted by local funnyman (and Emerging Media Arts nominee) Tristan Barrocks.

The evening will be a family affair for Barrocks, whose father, photographer Bobby Barrocks, is nominated in the Established Visual Arts category. This is the first time that a comedian has hosted the ceremonies. Other nominees of note include: Matt Campagna (Established Media Arts), co-founder of the Mississauga Independent Film Festival; and Zohra Zoberi (Established Literary Arts), a poet and playwright whose works in English and Urdu have earned her recognition from the governments of Ontario and Canada.

An evening of fun and entertainment, including the jazz stylings of the Alma Quartet, will be preceded by the usual red carpet reception, avec hors d’oeuvres.

Tickets for the MARTYs are $25 and may be purchased by calling 905-615-4278.