Bajan-Ghanaian writer and journalist Jessica Carmichael has been named a recipient of the 2026 Emerging Artist Award from the Lieutenant Governor of Alberta Arts Awards Foundation, a prestigious honour recognizing some of Alberta's most promising creative talents.
The award supports artists in the early stages of their professional careers and provides recipients with a medal and a $10,000 cash prize to advance their artistic development.
Carmichael was recognized in the Literary category for her debut young adult novel, The Full Picture, which was released in 2025 to critical acclaim. Drawing on her Ghanaian-Barbadian heritage, the novel follows a young Canadian girl who travels to Ghana to learn more about her late mother and, in the process, discovers her own identity.
In its citation, the Emerging Artist jury praised Carmichael's storytelling, describing her as 'an emerging young adult fiction writer with great promise.'
'Her writing is sharp, simultaneously clever and insightful, while building up eventful moments that resonate with tension and meaning,' the jury stated. 'Her uplifting work attends to the complexities of Canadian and African histories and provides a ray of light in challenging times.'
Beyond her work as an author, she is also an award-winning sports journalist and founder of Hibiscus Press, an independent publishing company dedicated to increasing representation in Canadian publishing through culturally grounded coming-of-age stories.
Speaking in a youtube interview following the announcement, Carmichael reflected on her mission as a writer.
'If I can get another person to read a story that they weren't used to or they wouldn't typically read, I feel like I've done my work,' she said.
The author also spoke about her love of young adult literature and her creative process, explaining that she often begins with dialogue before building the world around her characters. For The Full Picture, she drew heavily on Ghanaian culture, incorporating sensory details such as food, music and local traditions to immerse readers in the setting.
While much of her work is inspired by her own family history, Carmichael emphasized the importance of creating characters who can embark on journeys distinct from her own experiences.
The award also carries personal significance for the author, who credited Alberta and the city of Edmonton for helping shape her development as a writer.
'This story did not exist without my experience and my time here in Alberta,' Carmichael said. 'Being able to win this award really shows how much Alberta and the city of Edmonton specifically poured into me as a creative.'
Currently, Carmichael is developing her second young adult novel, which will continue her exploration of identity, belonging and reconciliation while centering Black Canadian experiences.
The Lieutenant Governor of Alberta Arts Awards Foundation's Emerging Artist Awards recognize artists who have demonstrated exceptional potential and are poised to make significant contributions to Alberta's cultural landscape. Up to ten awards are presented during each competition cycle.