Arts Wisconsin: Seeks nominations for 2010 Arts in the Community Awards

Contact: Anne Katz, Arts Wisconsin

608 255 8316 | akatz@artswisconsin.org

presented in partnership with the League of Wisconsin Municipalities and Wisconsin Towns Association

Nomination deadline: August 1, 2010

Arts Wisconsin, the state’s arts service, advocacy and development organization, announces the second year of the Arts in the Community Awards, highlighting and promoting exemplary community-based support of the arts in Wisconsin villages, towns and cities. The awards will honor civic leaders who have encouraged and supported innovative approaches to using the arts to build and sustain vibrant, healthy, creative communities. The award showcases programs, and champions, that may be viewed as models or best practices for other communities.

The awards are presented by Arts Wisconsin in partnership with the League of Wisconsin Municipalities and the Wisconsin Towns Association.

Arts Wisconsin is particularly interested in elected officials and civic leaders from villages, towns and cities who have demonstrated an overall commitment to supporting the arts and partnering with the local arts community to positively impact the lives of all citizens.

At least two awards will be made this year, to a village, town and city with over 20,000 population and under 20,000 population. Additional awards may be made at the discretion of the review committee.

The awards will honor demonstrable, ongoing commitment to the arts by business and government leaders, agencies and organizations, heavy commitment of volunteer resources, addressing a clearly defined community need, tangible results, broad and diverse community support, and innovation and creativity in integrating the arts with civic strategies and plans.

“We are very pleased to be making these awards in partnership with the League of Municipalities and the Towns Association,” said Peter Crawford, Arts Wisconsin President. “This is a great opportunity for Wisconsin to recognize and celebrate 21st century creative and cultural development, and the civic officials leading the way, at the local level.”

Award presentations will take place during the annual conferences of the League of Wisconsin Municipalities and Wisconsin Towns Association, both taking place in October, 2010. Awardees will also be recognized at the Arts Wisconsin annual Arts Day, held every year in March. Recipients will receive a plaque designed by a Wisconsin artist and suitable for display in any public venue. In addition, recipients will be featured in Arts Wisconsin, League of Wisconsin Municipalities, and Wisconsin Towns Associations print and online publications.

Organizations and government agencies may self-nominate or individuals, nonprofit organizations, agencies or businesses may nominate a community and elected official/civic leader.

The deadline for applications is August 1, 2010. Award recipients will be announced by September 1, 2010. For more information on the awards and the application process, contact Arts Wisconsin at 608 255 8316 | akatz@artswisconsin.org | http://www.artswisconsin.org.