The DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities (DCCAH) invites you to submit nominations for the 27th Annual Mayor’s Arts Awards and Mayor's Awards for Arts Teaching.  The Mayor’s Arts Awards and Mayor's Awards for Arts Teaching are the most prestigious honors conferred by the city on individual artists, teachers, nonprofit organizations and patrons of the arts.  Mayor Vincent C. Gray and the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities will honor awardees at a public ceremony in spring of 2012.

MAYOR’S ARTS AWARDS - 5 CATEGORIES:

EXCELLENCE IN AN ARTISTIC DISCIPLINE
An individual artist or an organization that has demonstrated a substantial history of extraordinary achievement in an artistic discipline.

OUTSTANDING EMERGING ARTIST
A promising individual artist or group of artists who have demonstrated excellence and achieved distinction in an artistic discipline.

EXCELLENCE IN SERVICE TO THE ARTS
An individual or a private, public or government organization that has demonstrated a substantial history of exemplary leadership, financial support, or other services vital to the development of the arts in the District of Columbia.

OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO ARTS EDUCATION
An individual or organization that has demonstrated outstanding efforts to evoke interest and understanding of the arts.

INNOVATION IN THE ARTS
An individual or organization that has demonstrated use of skills or resources to produce art, art programs or services.

MAYOR'S AWARD FOR ARTS TEACHING - 3 CATEGORIES:

(Deadline Extended until March 23rd)

EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING PERFORMING ARTS
The award in performing arts is for a full-time elementary, middle, junior or high school teacher who teaches music, choir, band, audio engineering, film, theatre, acting, directing, creative movement, dance or choreography.

EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING VISUAL ARTS
The award in visual arts is for a full-time elementary, middle, junior or high school teacher who teaches art, drawing, painting, graphic design, set design, fashion design, photography, printmaking, silk-screening, textiles, pottery, sculpture or installation.

EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING LANGUAGE ARTS
The award in language arts is for a full-time elementary, middle, junior or high school teacher who teaches creative writing such as playwriting, poetry, personal essays or short stories.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Steven Scott Mazzola, Grants Programs Manager
DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities
1371 Harvard Street, NW
Washington, DC  20009
T# 202.724.5613
steven.mazzola@dc.gov

Eligibility:
MAYORS ARTS AWARDS: Limited to those individuals and organizations that reside in the District of Columbia.  Only 501c3 nonprofits are eligible to receive the Mayor's Arts Award.  DCCAH Commissioners and staff are ineligible for nomination.

MAYOR'S AWARDS FOR ARTS TEACHING: Limited to full-time arts teachers who are employed by a public or public charter school located in the District of Columbia. Teachers in all artistic disciplines (visual arts, music, theatre, dance or humanities-based) are eligible for nomination.  Criteria includes innovative teaching, active collaboration with other school personnel, artists and/or arts organizations, outstanding leadership in promoting activities involving the arts, especially cross-disciplinary initiatives involving arts and non-arts content areas and ability to engage and motivate students to participate in arts activities. 

Collaboration with the nominee for both Mayor's Arts Awards and Mayor's Awards for Arts Teaching is highly advised in order to ensure a competitive nomination package.

The number of nominations received for each nominee has no bearing on the selection process.  It is highly advised to collaborate with nominees to ensure a competitive nomination packet.

Individuals and organizations are allowed to apply only one time in each category but can apply in multiple categories when appropriate.

Nominees are eligible to receive the Mayor’s Arts Award and Mayor's Award for Arts Teaching in only one category in any given year.  A nominee may receive another Mayor’s Arts Award and Mayor's Awards for Arts Teaching in a different category in subsequent years but may not receive more than one award in any category.  Self-nominations are acceptable.  A determination of non profit status for organizations will be made prior to reviewing an application for an award.

Process:
Nomination’s will be accepted using the Zoom Grants online system.  In the event of non-internet access, contact Steven Scott Mazzola at 202-724.5613 to schedule an appointment to enter your information in the offices of the commission.  Application responses must be prepared in advance and meetings will last no longer than 30 minutes to upload the application.

Nominations must include a narrative of two 8.5 by 11" pages maximum with biographical information about the Mayor's Arts Award or Mayor's Award for Arts Teaching nominee, achievements and an explanation of why the nominee merits a Mayor's Arts Award or Mayor's Award for Arts Teaching Award based on the criteria and description in the guidelines in each category.

In addition, the following materials are required:

• Narrative with brief biography or organizational mission/history/artistic statement and articulation of the criteria mentioned (i.e. excellence in teaching or innovation or service). Max 3,000 characters at 11 point font double-spaced
• Work sample including audio/video recordings (1), digital images (Up to 5), writing samples (Up to 2), websites, lessons plans for teaching nominations
• For individual artists and teachers, a resume and for organizations, a mission statement.
• Up to two (2) letters of support

APPLY HERE: