July 22, 2009
The Virginia Commission for the Arts is now accepting nominations for the state's first Virginia Heritage Awards to be presented in Richmond on October 9th during the Richmond Folk Festival.
The Virginia Heritage Awards will recognize six master folk artists and/or preservationists who have made outstanding contributions to artistic traditions rooted in the traditional or ethnic culture of the Commonwealth. Folk and traditional arts, which include music, crafts, dance, storytelling, and others, are those that are learned as part of the cultural life of a community whose members share a common heritage, language, religion, occupation, or geographic region. These traditions are shaped by the values of the shared culture and are passed from generation to generation, most often within families and community through observation, conversation, and practice, rather than formal training.
Anyone can nominate an individual, group, or organization for the Virginia Heritage Awards. Nominees must currently live or be located in Virginia. Candidates will be evaluated on the authenticity of their tradition, as well as on their efforts to enrich their communities and enhance their tradition to a higher level of artistic achievement.
Nominations are due by 5 pm on Monday, August 3, 2009, in the offices of the Virginia Commission for the Arts. Visit the Virginia Heritage Awards nominations page at www.arts.virginia.gov for nomination forms and instructions, or call the commission offices at (804) 225-3132 for more information about the nomination process.
The Virginia Commission for the Arts supports the arts through funding from the Virginia General Assembly and the National Endowment for the Arts. The commission distributes grant awards to artists, arts and other nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, educators and local governments and provides technical assistance in arts management.
