The Joyce Foundation Honors Artistic Works in Chicago, Cleveland and Detroit

The Joyce Foundation Honors Artistic Works in Chicago, Cleveland and Detroit

2009 JOYCE AWARDS PROGRAM SUPPORTS MIDWEST CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS TO COMMISSION NEW WORKS BY ARTISTS OF COLOR

CHICAGO, Jan. 26 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Joyce Foundation is proud to announce the 2009 Joyce Awards winners in the Midwest cities of Chicago, Cleveland, and Detroit. Since 2003, the Joyce Awards program has been the only award exclusively supporting artists of color in major Midwestern cities. This year's outstanding arts organizations will each receive grants of $50,000 to support new works in dance, music, theater, and visual arts.

Winners in each artistic category include:

-- DANCE: Ravinia Festival (Chicago) to support "Fondly Do We Hope,
Fervently Do We Pray...," a full-evening dance production commissioned
from African-American choreographer Bill T. Jones, inspired by Abraham
Lincoln in recognition of the Lincoln bicentennial;
-- MUSIC: Detroit International Jazz Festival (Detroit) to support a new
jazz composition that would pay tribute to two Detroit jazz icons:
the Guardian Building in downtown Detroit and the music family dynasty
of the Jones Brothers by African-American bassist, composer, and
arranger John Clayton;
-- THEATER: Goodman Theatre (Chicago) to support a new play that draws
on the cultural heritage of traditional Jibaro music by Latin American
playwright Quiara Alegria Hudes;
-- VISUAL ARTS: Museum of Contemporary Art Cleveland (Cleveland) to
support an exhibition and commission a series of new works by
African-American visual artist Iona Rozeal Brown.

"We are proud to honor the talent and vision of these artists and the vibrant cultural institutions that will present these works," stated Ellen S. Alberding, president of the Joyce Foundation. "On behalf of the Joyce Foundation, we are pleased that our Joyce Awards provide us the opportunity to promote such a diverse collection of artistic expression in our region."

This year's competition drew 50 entries from around the Great Lakes region. Entries are reviewed by independent arts advisors from outside the Midwest and reviewed and approved by the Foundation's board of directors. Joyce Awards of $50,000 are made directly to arts organizations and are awarded in dance, music, theater, and visual arts. Each award supports the work of the individual artist as well as significant community engagement efforts. Organizations have up to three years to complete their proposed projects.

For more information, visit www.joycefdn.org.

Source: The Joyce Foundation

CONTACT: Charles Boesel of The Joyce Foundation, +1-312-782-2464 (o),
+1-312-371-9566 (c), cboesel@joycefdn.org

Web Site: http://www.joycefdn.org/

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