COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Greater Columbus Arts Council (GCAC) today announced the recipients and finalists of the 2024 Community Arts Partnership Awards. The individual award recipients are being recognized for their exemplary support of the arts; two community projects will receive awards recognizing achievements in innovation and community caring; and two winners will be chosen from six finalists for Columbus Makes Art Excellence Awards.
All winners and nominees will be honored at the free Big Arts Night celebration on Thursday, Oct. 24 from 5-8 p.m. at the Southern Theatre and Westin Great Southern Hotel. GCAC’s Artists Elevated and Ray Hanley Award recipients will be also celebrated at the event. The event is free but seat reservations are required. To reserve seats, go to my.cbusarts.com/7886.
“Every year our board has their work cut out for them in selecting the award recipients, and this year was no different,” said Tom Katzenmeyer, president and CEO of GCAC. “This year we have another exceptional pool of nominees. These nominations and awards are a small way to recognize the exemplary work being done by individuals and organizations to create impactful art for the whole community, from powerful festivals to inspiring educators, programs focused on under-served populations and efforts to achieve equitable funding for artists.”
The award winners are:
BHB, recipient of the newly renamed Jim Arter Arts Educator Award, was nominated by Jackie Calderone. BHB or Brothers Helpin’ Brothas, is an educator and founder of the Hip Hop Expo who has inspired and guided countless students over the years. He has led the TRANSIT ARTS Hip Hop Dance Crew and established programs like Hip Hop Origins, teaching young people about the roots of hip hop in community spaces. BHB’s dedication has earned him numerous accolades, and he continues to foster creativity and self-expression through his teaching and mentorship. His legacy is exemplified by former students who credit him with transforming their lives and encouraging them to pursue their artistic dreams. This award comes with a prize of $5,000.
In addition, GCAC awarded two Dale E. Heydlauff Community Arts Innovation Awards. The awards, named after Heydlauff in 2020 in honor of his contributions to the arts, each come with a prize of $5,000. Heydlauff provided matching funds to make these awards possible. They are presented to innovative projects or initiatives that have used the arts to address larger community issues of diversity, inclusion, equity or social justice.
The two winners of the Dale E. Heydlauff Community Arts Innovation Awards are:
Opera Columbus’ Crane Directing Fellowship + Observership, nominated by Julia Noulin-Mérat, was launched in the 2021-22 season to support programs for early-career BIPOC stage directors in large-scale operatic productions. Aiming to diversify creative leadership in the opera industry, the fellowship equips professionals with essential tools and offers opportunities to assistant direct and eventually lead productions, including a chance to direct an Opera Columbus show. The Crane Directing Fellowship + Observership has already seen its fellows secure roles at prestigious institutions and was recently recognized as a finalist in the 2024 International Opera Awards.
Strings, Out of the Box, Urban Strings Columbus, nominated by Catherine Willis, was an innovative initiative aimed at introducing underserved youth to string instruments. Running from the fall of 2023 to the summer of 2024, the program helps participants explore a wide range of musical genres and featured guest conductors like David Robinson and Kenneth Bean, who led master classes and special performances. Highlights included using rap to teach scales, a college visit to Baldwin Wallace and Oberlin Conservatories, and a Black History program showcasing music by Black composers. The program culminated in a performance alongside the acclaimed duo Black Violin at the Ohio Theatre and a summer tour to Chicago.
On Oct. 24, GCAC will also announce the recipient of the Michael B. Coleman Arts Partner Award and the winners of the Columbus Makes Art Excellence Awards recognizing outstanding achievements in innovation, risk and artistic excellence in a performance, exhibition, program or project. One $20,000 award will be given in each category of organizations with budgets of under $1 million and those with budgets of $1 million and over.
The 2024 finalists are:
Organizations with budgets of under $1 million
- 934 Gallery, Pay Artists
- Columbus Cultural Orchestra, Black History Month Outreach Tour
- Education Foundation for Freedom, 2024 Columbus Women & Girls’ Fest
Organizations with budgets of $1 million and over
- CAPA, Walk With Amal
- Columbus Symphony, Nas with the Columbus Symphony
- Lincoln Theatre Association, Performing Arts Design and Development Initiative
GCAC’s annual Community Arts Partnership Awards honor the Columbus community for its active support of central Ohio’s artists and arts organizations. Nearly 55 organizations and individuals were nominated this year.
To see a complete list of nominees, view the PDF here or visit the Big Arts Night page here: gcac.org/big-arts-night
The 2024 Big Arts Night event is supported in part by Bath & Body Works, PNC Bank and Dale E. Heydlauff.
Mission of the Greater Columbus Arts Council: To champion and elevate the arts and cultural expression of Greater Columbus. www.gcac.org
The Greater Columbus Arts Council receives major financial support from the City of Columbus, Franklin County Commissioners, the Ohio Arts Council and The Ohio State University.
For translations of this release and other pages, please see the dropdown menu at the top right corner of gcac.org.
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CONTACT: Jami Goldstein
(614) 221-8492
jgoldstein@gcac.org
