The Cleveland
Arts Prize
Caroline
R. Merk
Currents
January 26, 2006
Cleveland
Arts Prize is a venerable institution and an important element in
our city's arts scene. Since 1960, it has been honoring creativity
and achievement, and that can encourage and inspire further creative
output which ultimately enriches our world. For the last two years
no prizes have been awarded. The leadership of the Cleveland Arts
Prize felt it needed a hiatus to reorganize and redefine itself.
"We have gone through a virtual renovation," said Terri Pontremoli,
the new executive director of the Cleveland Arts Prize. At last,
an invitation was issued to come hear about the "better than ever"
Cleveland Arts Prize. The event was held at the Museum of Contemporary
Art Cleveland and was a real who's who of Cleveland's arts and cultural
community. Composer/saxophonist Howie Smith (a prize recipient in
'85} performed, and it felt like a celebration!
The
awards honor those who create works, rather than those who only
perform them. However, a number of scholarships and honorary awards
will continue to be bestowed upon other distinguished and deserving
individuals, as before. Cleveland Arts Prizes were previously given
in the areas of architecture, dance, literature, music and visual
arts. Among the changes made, music and dance, which include composition
and choreography, have been consolidated. Musical theater and rock
are new areas within this category. Design now includes - though
is not limited to - architecture, graphic design, industrial design,
landscape architecture and urban planning. The visual arts have
been broadened to include film and multimedia.
There
will be fewer awards given, though in greater monetary amounts,
with a strong new emphasis on emerging artists. Established artists
will still be recognized with two prizes of $2,500 each, whereas
in the past as many as five could be awarded. The largest prize
of $5,000 will go to one emerging Northeast Ohio artist. Jurors
will be selected from a broader pool and rotated off the panel every
two years, with prize staff overseeing jurors' deliberations. "We
were aiming at more transparency in the process of selecting winners,"
explained Ms. Pontremoli. The organization is very concerned about
raising public awareness and participation. Ms. Pontremoli said
that she and the board felt strongly about the com-munity-at-large
having greater input and becoming more involved in the nomination
process. So, as of January 31st, people can nominate candidates
by going to the Web site at www.clevelandartsprize.org. Nominations
for tiiis year's awards are open until February 28thth.
The
2006 Cleveland Arts Prize awards ceremony will be held this summer,
but the exact date is as yet unspecified.
PHOTOGRAPHS
BY ROB MULLER
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