BC Arts Council announces Heart of the Arts Winners on August 10th
Every other year the Arts Council members vote on nominations for the Heart of the Arts award for extraordinary accomplishments in the previous two years. This year, Peg Johnston of the Dept of Public Art, Cooperative Gallery, and the Bridge has been nominated, as well as Emily Jablon, who has created several mosaic public art installations.
Johnston is nominated for "making blight the inspiration for art" for the original murals affixed to boarded up buildings in Binghamton, for managing the "Birthplace of Virtual Reality" murals in the Water St. Parking Ramp, and for "sparking" an arts renaissance and transforming a derelict block into "State of the Art St." And for coordinating 50 volunteers for Mural Fest 2015.
Jablon is nominated for creating the ""Confluence Arts Project" installing mosaics, and for engaging at risk and underserved populations and people with disabilities in artistic activities.
Other nominees are Susan Ashbaker Director of the Tri Cities Opera for leading the organization from financial and organizational challenges, and for introducing "opera writ large"; Harold and Toby Jean Manker, Program Directors of the Phelps Mansion Museum for chartering the Phelps as a "house museum" and initiating musical events; Alvin Williams III of Classical Pianists of the Future for "Helping young talented classical pianists follow their dreams."
Voting is open to members of the Arts Council until July 29th. Membership is $35/year.
The Broome County Arts Council will announce winners of its 2016 Heart of the Arts and Lifetime Achievement Awards during a news conference at 10am, Wednesday, August 10th at the at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel’s Sun Briar Court in downtown Binghamton
Awards will be presented Monday September 19th at the 11th Heart of the Arts Award Celebration, DoubleTree Hotel Grand Ballroom, downtown Binghamton. Tickets are $55 for general admission and $50 for arts council members. For more information
e-mail information@broomearts.org or call 607-723-4620.