Princess Grace Foundation-USA Announces 2009 Awards Winners in Theater, Dance & Film

Princess Grace Foundation-USA Announces 2009 Awards Winners in Theater, Dance & Film

NEW YORK, Aug. 11 /PRNewswire/ -- The Board of Trustees of the Princess Grace Foundation-USA (PGF-USA) and its Chairman, Hon. John F. Lehman, announced today winners of the 2009 Princess Grace Awards. The Awards for theater, dance and film continue the legacy of Princess Grace (Kelly) of Monaco who, during Her lifetime, anonymously helped emerging artists pursue their goals. This year's 22 Awards winners will travel to New York City as guests of the PGF-USA, where they will receive their Awards at the annual black-tie Princess Grace Awards Gala, held in the presence of HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco, on October 21, 2009 at Cipriani 42nd Street.

The Awards winners exemplify both classical and alternative artistic disciplines and, while still considered emerging talent, already show exceptional promise in their areas of expertise. The Foundation's support assists their theater and dance studies, helps pay their artistic fees at non-profit theater and dance companies and helps support their thesis film projects. The actual Award this year is a unique work of art created by designer Alex Soldier. The 2009 recipients hail from or are affiliated with organizations in 17 states.

Special Project Awards and Works in Progress Residencies at the Baryshnikov Arts Center are grants given to past Awards winners for projects that advance their artistic development. This year there are seven Special Projects and two Works in Progress Residencies.

Past winners of the Awards who distinguish themselves in their artistic disciplines since receiving their initial Awards are eligible for the Princess Grace Statue Award. This Award includes a $25,000 gift and a Bronze Statue of Princess Grace created by Dutch artist Kees Verkade. This year's Statue Award winners are Brian Kulick, Artistic Director of Classic Stage Company, and Gillian Murphy, Principal Dancer at American Ballet Theatre.

PGF-USA, a public charity, was formed after the death of Princess Grace in 1982. It awards scholarships, apprenticeships, and fellowships to assist artists at the start of their careers. Since the Foundation's inception, more than 650 Awards have been given, totaling more than $7 million.

For the complete list of 2009 Princess Grace Awards winners and for more information, please visit www.pgfusa.org.

For Gala ticket information, contact Tamara Leuchtenburg at 212.245.6570 x15, Tamaral@eventassociatesinc.com.

For Gala media inquiries, contact Manuela Savona at 203.228.5090, savona@lisalori.com.

Source: The Princess Grace Foundation-USA

CONTACT: Christine Kite, PGF-USA Communications Manager,
+1-212-317-1470, ckite@pgfusa.org

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

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