Press release

The Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs is accepting nominations for the 2012 Mayor’s Arts Awards. The awards recognize the accomplishments of artists, arts and cultural organizations and community members committed to enriching their communities through the arts.

The Seattle Arts Commission will review public nominations and recommend recipients to the mayor for final selection. The awards, which are non-monetary, are presented annually. This is the 10th year of the awards.

As the goal of the awards is to reflect the diversity of artistic achievement throughout the city, there are no preset award categories.

“The arts are one of Seattle’s greatest strengths and a powerful avenue of expression for our diverse communities,” said Mayor Mike McGinn. “I’m proud to live in a city where so many people and organizations are dedicated to making a difference through art and culture.”

McGinn will honor recipients of the 2012 Mayor’s Arts Awards at a public ceremony at Seattle Center, noon, Friday, Aug. 31. He will also open the Bumbershoot Visual Arts Exhibits for a free public preview that day.

The nomination deadline is 5 p.m., Tuesday, April 17. The nomination form is available online at www.seattle.gov/arts. For a print version of the form, contact Tamara Gill, (206) 733-9591 or tamara.gill@seattle.gov.

The awards are presented in partnership with Bumbershoot®: Seattle’s Music & Arts Festival and media sponsor City Arts magazine.

Here is a list of previous recipients of the Mayor’s Arts Award. 2011: Donald Byrd; Jack Straw Productions, Quinton Morris, On the Boards, Pratt Fine Arts Center and Tet in Seattle.2010: Juan Alonso, Book-It Repertory Theatre, Dennis Coleman, Reel Grrls, Sergei Tschernisch, Velocity Dance Center. 2009: Artist Trust, Jesse Higman, Speight Jenkins, Northwest Tap Connection, Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestras. 2008: 14/48: the world’s quickest theater festival; Coyote Central and Marybeth Satterlee; Hugo Ludeña; Nonsequitur; Cathryn Vandenbrink; Wing Luke Asian Museum. 2007: Clarence Acox, John Gilbreath and Earshot Jazz, Jean Griffith, Longhouse Media’s Native Lens Program, Massive Monkees, Richard Hugo House, Mimi Gardner Gates and Seattle Art Museum. 2006: Linda Hartzell and Seattle Children’s Theatre; Michael J. Herschensohn and Northwest Folklife; Rainier Vista Cambodian Youth Program; Gerard Schwarz; family of visual artists Michael Spafford, Elizabeth Sandvig and Spike Mafford; Reggie Watts. 2005: David Brewster and Town Hall; Peter F. Donnelly; Sara Liberty-Laylin and Adams Elementary School; Alden Mason; The Tsutakawa Family: Gerard, Deems, Marcus and Mayumi; Pastor Patrinell Wright and Total Experience Gospel Choir. 2004: Central District Forum for Arts & Ideas, The Seattle Foundation, Tim Summers, Sub Pop Records, Kent Stowell and Francia Russell. 2003: The Paul G. Allen Family Foundation, Arts Corps, Vinson Cole, Consolidated Works.

The Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs promotes the value of arts and culture in communities throughout Seattle. The 16-member Seattle Arts Commission, citizen volunteers appointed by the mayor and City Council, supports the city agency.