The DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities (DCCAH)
has announced the special honorees and finalists of the 29th Annual Mayor's
Arts Awards. The awards are the highest honors conferred by the District
of Columbia in recognition of artistic excellence and service. The
event will take place on Wednesday, October 29 from 6:30 to 8:30 PM at
the renowned Lisner Auditorium. Andrea Roane, Morning Anchor, WUSA 9,
will host the evening's festivities. The Awards ceremony is free and
open to the public.
Special awards
will be given to several individuals and organizations, recognizing
their outstanding support to DC's arts, entertainment, and creative
industries. This year's chosen finalists demonstrate the wide range of
talent the District of Columbia arts community has to offer. Finalists
were selected by the Mayor's Arts Awards Advisory Jury comprised of
prominent members of the District's arts community with expertise in
dance, music, theatre, literary arts, visual arts, arts service and arts
education.
Those
receiving special recognition are Dr. James Billington, The Librarian of
Congress; Cathy Hughes, Chairperson, Radio One and TV One; Maida
Withers, founder and artistic director of Maida Withers Dance
Construction Company; Victor Shargai, theater advocate and interior
designer, Victor Shargai and Associates Inc.; and Rebecca and Hugo
Medrano, founders, GALA Hispanic Theatre.
The finalists for the 29th Annual Mayor's Arts Awards are:
Excellence in an Artistic Discipline
- Children's Chorus of Washington
- DC Jazz Festival
- The In Series
- Washington Jewish Film Festival
Excellence in Service to the Arts
- DC Arts and Humanities Education Collaborative
- Washington Project for the Arts
- Women in Film & Video
Innovation in the Arts
- The Embassy Series
- Lance Kramer
- Urban Corps Transatlantic Urban Dance Festival
Outstanding Contribution to Arts Education
- 826DC
- DC SCORES
- Washington Performing Arts Society
- Young Playwrights' Theater
Outstanding Emerging Artist
- Tarik Davis
- Rachel Kerwin
- Alan Paul
- Tommy Taylor Jr.
Excellence in Arts Teaching
- Nakia Espinal
- Bryan Hill
- Garwin Zamora
"The District
of Columbia is a national and international arts leader largely due to
the drive and talents of our city's artistic individuals and
organizations," said Mayor Gray. "This year's nominees celebrate DC's
cultural capital and spotlight the significance of our city's vibrant
arts and entertainment community. Arts education, artistic service and
the myriad contributions of local artists influence our city and make it
a great place to create."
"The Mayor's
Arts Awards celebrates the District's thriving and diverse arts
community," said Judith Terra, Chair of the DC Commission on the Arts
and Humanities. "The nominees represent the artists, arts organizations
and educators who have made the District a world-class cultural
capital."
"The
Commission is proud to honor the District's premier individual artists
and arts organizations," said Lionell Thomas, Executive Director of DC
Commission on the Arts and Humanities. "The District's arts,
entertainment and creative industries are booming, contributing to our
sustainability and helping to make the city a better place to live, work
and play."
Since 1968,
the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities has supported community
development through the arts by promoting artistic excellence. The
Commission's commitment to raising the profile of the arts in the
District of Columbia continues through the Mayor's Arts Awards. This
year's awards will be presented in the following categories: Excellence
in an Artistic Discipline, Excellence in Service to the Arts, Innovation
in the Arts, Outstanding Contribution to Arts Education, Outstanding
Emerging Artist and the Mayor's Award for Arts Teaching.