Bermudian artist, curator, writer, entrepreneur and humanitarian Joan Harvey-Butterfield is among ten ?extraordinary women from around the world? who will be honoured in this year?s annual QKingdom Ministries? Women of Great Esteem awards ceremony, which will take place at the Millennium UN Plaza Hotel March 27.

The keynote speaker will be Minister of the Environment Neletha Butterfield.

The Women of Great Esteem award was established in 1995 by QKingdom founder, Bishop Sylveta Hamilton-Gonzales as a way to recognise the increasing contributions of women who have excelled beyond normal expectations in a multi-cultural society.

The award is a vehicle used for the empowerment of women, honouring them for their relentless efforts to nurture and serve their communities. In addition, QKingdom Ministries also honours women worldwide for their contributions to the advancement of world peace in today?s society.

Bermuda born and raised, Mrs. Harvey-Butterfield left the Island as a young woman to study in North America, and now resides in Toronto, Canada.

Early in her career, she was drawn to three dimensional decoupage, and has used her artistic skills, and her heritage as a black Bermudian living in Canada, to produce images exalting the virtues of the African diaspora, for she believes that art links her race?s past and future.

Today, Mrs. Harvey-Butterfield is internationally recognised, and has been featured in numerous publications, as well as appearing on many TV and radio programmes. Her compelling and revealing images are found in private and corporate collections, and are also displayed in museums, universities, hospitals, libraries and city halls in North America.

She has been regularly commissioned by organisations such as Time-Warner of New York to produce art for guest speakers and award presentations, and has also curated exhibitions for Essence Art, the City of Toronto, the Bank of Montreal, the Canadian Human Rights Commission, the Law Society of Canada, and the Jamaican Canadian Association.

As curator of the ?Human Rights Through Art II Exhibit?, Mrs. Harvey-Butterfield?s thrust has been to emphasise the importance of human rights in the Toronto community, to promote not only Black History Month and images relating to her race?s struggle, but also to foster a more tolerant and educated public.

In September 2000, with the assistance of corporate sponsors, her Gallery of Art launched its pathway to success? poster project, producing and distributing prints and posters incorporating images of black children to schools in selected areas.

In 2001, Harvey-Butterfield participated in The Paper Trail as Toronto?s Harbourfront Centre ? an event where artists from around the world are invited to produce and display their unique paper creations.

Even with all of her accomplishments, the artist regards her crowning achievement as ?maintaining a loving relationship with her husband Sheridan, raising three wonderful, progressive children, and being blessed with three beautiful grandchildren?.