The Arts Council of Southwestern Indiana (ARTSWIN) will resume their Art Awards as a standalone event after a one-year hiatus.
ARTSWIN has announced awards for everything from visual arts to arts education.
In 2023, the awards were pared down to the Mayor’s Award only. But this year more than 10 awards have been announced for a standalone event which will celebrate artists, arts organizations and patrons, making significant contributions to the local arts and ‘cultural landscape.’
Anne McKim, ARTSWIN executive director, said there are many people working to make this region a more vibrant place through the arts.
“There aren't that many opportunities to celebrate them, though,” she said. “And so it's incredibly important that at least once a year, we all get together and we all say ‘thank you’ to the people, the artists and the creatives, and the arts patrons, who are making wonderful things happen.”
McKim hopes the recognition of these artists and arts supporters will inspire others.
The Arts Awards event will be held Thursday August 15th from 5:30-8 pm at City View at Sterling Square.
Award categories include Visual Art, Performing Art, Young Artist, Arts Educator Award and Art Project Award.
More on the event
In addition, the Arts Council Staff and Board of Directors will present the Arts Council Award to two recipients, Samantha Buente, for elevating arts and entertainment programming in Haynie’s Corner to enhance neighborhood connectivity, livability, and desirability, and Tory Schendel-Vyvoda, for excellence in academic, institutional, and neighborhood-based arts research, programming, and engagement.
Two lifelong arts advocates, Ginny Schroeder and Terry Becker, will be remembered for their extraordinary efforts to advance the arts in our community with an Arts Luminary recognition.
Rounding out the evening, Mayor Stephanie Terry will present the prestigious Mayor’s Art Award to Stephanie Engelbrecht, for decades of generous philanthropy, strategic leadership, and unfailing commitment to advancing arts and cultural opportunities and institutions in Evansville.
Visual Art Award
Jordan Barclay, in recognition of his direction of the Evansville-focused documentary featuring local artist Kevin Titzer, “Sack Race with Knives.”
Performing Art Award
Children’s Theatre of Southern Indiana, for their work to expand theater education and performance opportunities for young people in our region.
Young Artist Award
Bayla Espenlaub, for theater and vocal achievement, and
Braden Riley, for orchestral violin performance achievement.
Arts Educator Award
Rob Millard-Mendez, for growing the local creative community by educating and inspiring fine arts students at the University of Southern Indiana.
Arts Project Award
BOOKED! concert series organized by Hamilton Golike, for providing an inclusive, all-ages alternative for musicians and avid listeners to give/experience in a small group setting.
Source: ARTSWIN
The Inaugural ‘Empowered’ art exhibit is up at the ARTSWIN gallery. It was inspired by both the Juneteenth holiday, and Pride Month.
“We asked artists to bring us art that made them feel empowered, made them feel like who they truly are, made them feel like they can conquer the world,” said Andrea Adams, gallery director.
“We've got several different interpretations of that. There are some artists who dropped off work (depicting) people that make them feel empowered, of things and hobbies that make them feel empowered, or sometimes just an image that makes them feel uplifted.”
There are traditional paintings and hand-made clothing, and sculptures such as "One Man's Misfire Might Manage to Inspire,” by Noah Kress-Jones.
Observing the piece, Adams said, “there's some wood and some found object and some ceramics. And it's there's a lot to look at here. Very interesting and very, very cool.”
“Empowered” will be up through the month of June.
