FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
OCTOBER 4, 2021
Mildred W. Spicer Arts Fund Honors Art and Creativity During Times of Crisis in the Charlottesville-Albemarle Area
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA - The Mildred W. Spicer Arts Fund, a Charlottesville-based initiative designed to enhance artistic discovery and creativity, is seeking applications for its annual Mildred W. Spicer Arts award celebrating the power of art and those advocating for inclusive art opportunities within the local community.
The arts award, which has historically recognized an artist with a disability or an individual/organization promoting art opportunities for those with disabilities within the Charlottesville-Albemarle area, was postponed in 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, the Arts Award will return with a special emphasis on those who used art and creativity to uplift their community during the recent health crisis.
Instead of featuring one winner of the award, the 2021 Mildred W. Spicer Arts Award now in its seventh year, will celebrate seven “Art Heroes” in the Charlottesville-Albemarle area who used the power of art during quarantine and beyond to help themselves and others with disabilities since the COVID-19 pandemic began.
“This year’s call for nomination provides an opportunity to shine a light on artists with disabilities, organizations helping individuals with disabilities, and anyone else in the community that used art and creativity as a positive outlet and response to the COVID-19 pandemic,” Sarah Blech, Mildred W. Spicer Arts Fund coordinator and Adaptive Recreation Manager for the City of Charlottesville. “The Mildred W. Spicer Arts Fund was created in May 2013 in honor of Mildred’s retirement from Charlottesville Parks and Recreation Department after 33 years as Therapeutic Recreation Supervisor. Since that time, the fund has provided an annual recognition art award in addition to an individual art training scholarship program for individuals who have a disability or who work with individuals with disabilities. The pandemic forced us to postpone the award in 2020, but in 2021 we’re using this important arts platform to again celebrate citizens and organizations using the power of art to improve lives.”
Eligibility: This year, the Mildred W. Spicer Arts Award will feature seven local artists. Anyone who has made a difference in their life and/or others through art during the COVID-19 pandemic can be nominated for the award.
Submission Process: For nomination form and eligibility guidelines, contact Sarah Blech, 434-970-3264, blechs@charlottesville.org, Charlottesville Parks & Recreation Department, PO Box 911, Charlottesville, VA. 22902.
Award Deadline: Nominations will be accepted October 4, 2021 through October 31, 2021.
Award Celebration: TBD.
In addition to recognizing artists and organizations supporting the arts, the Mildred W. Spicer Arts Fund provides scholarship opportunities for individuals with disabilities in the Charlottesville-Albemarle area to take classes and workshops related to the arts and to further develop artistic skills and self-expression.
Media Contact
Sarah Blech
Charlottesville Parks and Recreation
City of Charlottesville
434-970-3264
blechs@charlottesville.gov