Nominations Due for McKnight Distinguished Artist Award

The McKnight Foundation, Minneapolis, invites nominations for its seventh annual Distinguished Artist Award, in recognition of individual artists with enduring and exceptional careers. Nominations for the $40,000 award must be postmarked by March 31, 2004.

The award honors one artist each year for having made a substantial impact on the arts in Minnesota over a lifetime. A panel representing a variety of artistic disciplines considers first and foremost the quality of each nominated artist's work. Other considerations include the artist's commitment to his or her field, and ways the artist has enriched life for audiences and the community.

"Each year, through our work with arts organizations and the selection of the Distinguished Artist Award, our appreciation of the arts in Minnesota grows stronger," said Noa Staryk, McKnight board chair. "And we learn a little more about what it means on a personal level to be an artist in Minnesota."

After reviewing the nominations, the panel formally recommends one candidate to McKnight's board of directors. Artists in all disciplines are eligible for nomination but may not apply for the award themselves. Although nominees must have worked in Minnesota much of their lives, they need not reside in Minnesota when they are nominated. The panel will not consider those from Minnesota who achieved most of their success elsewhere, and no posthumous awards will be made. The recipient will be announced in mid-year 2004.

Nominations are retained for three years. Candidates who do not receive the award the year they are nominated will be reconsidered among nominees the following two years. It is not necessary to send another letter about someone whose nomination is still active, although career updates are welcome.

Previous recipients of the Distinguished Artist Award are Mike Lynch, visual artist (2003); Emilie Buchwald, writer, editor and publisher (2002); Dale Warland, choral music conductor and composer (2001); Robert Bly, poet, translator, writer and editor (2000); Warren McKenzie, potter (1999); and Dominick Argento, composer (1998).

Please send nominations in writing (no fax or e-mail submissions) to:

McKnight Distinguished Artist Award
710 South Second Street
Suite 400
Minneapolis, MN  55401

Resumes and additional letters of support are welcome. For more information about the award, please visit McKnight's Web site, or call the foundation at 612/333-4220.

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