WS Chronicle

In above photo: Arts Council of Winston-Salem/Forsyth County logo

Special to The Chronicle

The Arts Council of Forsyth County and Winston-Salem is requesting nominations for its annual awards. 

Nominations are due by Sept. 4. 

Winners will be announced at The Arts Council’s annual meeting at 5:30 p.m., Monday, Sept. 21, at the Milton Rhodes Center for the Arts in downtown Winston-Salem.  The event is free, and the public is invited. 

The Arts Council will make five awards this year:

•  The Arts Council Award

• The R. Philip Hanes Jr. Young Leader Award

•  The Arts Development Award

• The Arts Knowledge-Sharing Award

• Arts Educator Excellence Award

An Arts Educator Excellence Award has been added to recognize the work of an educator or teaching artist and his or her impact on our next generation of artists, patrons and creative individuals.

The Arts Council invites nominations from the community for the awards except for the Arts Development Award and The Arts Knowledge Sharing Award, which are based on self- nominations or those of Arts Council Funded Partners.   Arts Council board member Shaheen Syal will chair the awards selection committee.  Nomination forms are online at www.intothearts.org.

“Amazing things are happening every day in the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County arts community,” said Jim Sparrow, Arts Council president and chief executive officer.  “One of the high points of each annual meeting is recognizing people and organizations that are setting the pace and rendering extraordinary service.  They make us proud, and it is our privilege to honor them.  Community input is vital to the process, and we invite nominations.”

Following are qualifications for awards:

The Arts Council Award:  The honoree has exhibited a strong commitment of service and has made a significant impact and contribution to the arts in our community. 

The Inaugural Arts Educator Excellence Award:  The Arts Educator Excellence Award recognizes an educator or teaching artist who has enriched the education of our community’s youth and inspired the next generation of artists, patrons and creative individuals.

The recipient of the Arts Educator Excellence Award will receive a cash award of $1,000 to support their continued work in arts education.

The 2015 R. Philip Hanes, Jr. Young Leader Recognition Award:  The honoree is 40 years of age or younger and has exemplified volunteer dedication, contributions and leadership. The time, talent and energy demonstrated by this young leader has furthered the missions of arts and cultural entities of Winston-Salem and Forsyth County and has left a legacy of service for future young leaders as well as for the future development of the cultural resources of our community. 

The Arts Development Award:  The Arts Development Award recognizes an innovative, collaborative project between at least one Funded Partner or member organization of The Arts Council and one or more community organizations in a new project to attract new arts and cultural audiences to participate in events in Forsyth County. 

The Arts Knowledge-Sharing Award:   The Arts Knowledge-Sharing Award recognizes two current grant recipients who collaborated to improve administrative operations to create greater efficiency and improve impact in the areas of fundraising, audience development, marketing, technology or finance. 

Winston-Salem, known as a “City of Arts and Innovation,” has a  robust arts community that enriches the lives of area residents every day and accounts in large part for the recognition it continues to receive as a great place to live, learn, work and play. 

The Arts Council is celebrating its 65th anniversary this year.  It raises funds and advocates for the arts, sponsors events in conjunction with other arts organizations, promotes and funds arts education, creates cultural and learning opportunities, develops social capital and aids economic development. 

The Arts Council has made 76 grants totaling $1,845,000 for 2015.  Organizational Support Grants, $1,615,000; Wells Fargo Arts-In-Education Grants, $100,000; Duke Energy Regional Artist Grants, $30,000; Innovative Project Grants, $100,000.