For the past 45 years, the Arts Council of Southwestern Indiana (ARTSWIN) has celebrated individuals and groups for their contributions to the local arts and culture of Evansville through the Art Awards.
This year, the recipients represent a variety of artistic mediums.
“We have performing artists, we have visual artists, woodworkers, people that work with charcoal, arts educators," said Community Engagement and Marketing Director Katelyn Bentley. "Actually, one of our young artists is multi-disciplinary so she’s involved in band and the visual art department at Castle High School."
Awards will be given out in various categories, including: Visual art, Performing art, Young artist, Arts Educator, Arts project, the Arts Council Award and the Mayor’s Art Award.
Bentley also said it is important to recognize local artists because the council wants to encourage young people to create art.
“It makes people proud of Evansville, at least that’s how I feel," she said. "These people are so ingrained in the community and every single recipient this year is actually in the education scene or has some tie to the education scene so that influences — obviously, younger generations to create and be involved."
She said the council wants to remind people that “creativity is what makes our community flourish.”
The Arts Award ceremony will be held on Thursday August 14th from 5:30-8 PM at City View at Sterling Square.
Tickets are open to the public and can be bought online on the ARTSWIN website.
More about the award recipients:
Visual Art Award:
Matt Fitzpatrick
Art department head at Castle High School and runs an independent bookstore, Bluestocking Social.
Performing Art Award:
Andrea Drury
Conductor of the Philharmonic Chorus and Fine Arts Specialist for Vocal Music and Theatre for the Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation.
Young Artist Award:
Jocelyn Maria
Charcoal artist at Signature School
Brooklyn Hanks
Won Best of Show (the second time in Castle High School’s history) and 1st Place in Textiles this year at the Evansville Museum Student Art Show.
Arts Educator Award:
Sara Ruckman
Art teacher at Harrison High School.
Arts Project Award:
RiverTown Storytellers at the River’s Bend
Non-profit dedicated to integrating music, art, and storytelling into early education.
Arts Council Award:
Jessica and Mike Inman
Runs Inman’s Framing, a shop of fine art and quality framing. They spotlight new artists as they begin to show their work, guiding them into the market, and bring together artists and collectors.
Kyle Darnell
Creator of the Evansville Monsters book series and specializes in linocut printmaking, illustration, and folklore-inspired storytelling. Teaches art at Signature School and serves as an adjunct professor at the University of Evansville.
Mayor’s Art Award:
Eric Renschler
UE Theatre department chair and alumnus.
This year also marks 55 years since the arts council was established in Evansville.