Cleveland Arts Prize promotes creativity in Northeast Ohio by honoring artists for artistic excellence and recognizes community leaders who help regional arts flourish. Cleveland Arts Prize (CAP) was established by the Women’s City Club in 1960, and continues today as the nation’s oldest municipal arts award and an ongoing platform for celebrating Northeast Ohio’s exceptional arts community. In its earliest years, the group commissioned the Arts Prize medal, launched a scholarship program and established an endowment that secured the annual awarding of prizes.
Discipline Awards
Applications are accepted March 1 - May 1.
Discipline awards are application based only. Your nominee will be notified and sent the link to complete the application. Nominations do not have an effect on their application and are not seen by the jurors. Nominations must be submitted by April 1st in order to give the nominee adequate time to complete the application.
Discipline Prize Criteria:
A body of original work that consistently exemplifies the highest level of artistic excellence as shown by but not limited to:
- Mastery of traditional skill and willingness to challenge status quo
- Awareness and/or acknowledgment of contemporary and/or changing schools of thought respective to discipline
- High level of continuity between artist statement and work
- Regional, national and/or international recognition*
- Contributions to the canon of knowledge that will endure beyond the artist's life*
*These criteria will be assessed relative to career level.
Applicants will be placed into career levels based on the following requirements:
Emerging Artist Award: Candidate is currently living in Northeast Ohio and has created significant work or projects and shows remarkable promise for further development of their artistic careers.
Mid-Career Artist Award: Candidate is currently residing or has previously resided in Northeast Ohio and whose work has received both regional and national recognition.
Lifetime Achievement Award: Candidate has worked in Northeast Ohio over a period of decades and whose artistic achievements have brought distinction to the artist individually and to the region as a whole.
Past Arts Prize winners are not eligible to win a prize in the same category more than once.
Applicants must currently or have previously lived or worked in Northeast Ohio. Only living artists can apply or be nominated for a discipline prize.
Special Prizes
Special Prize candidates are considered through nomination only. The nominator is responsible for soliciting no more than 5 letters of support in favor of the nominee.
The submission of support letters is the responsibility of the nominator. Nominations without support letters will not be considered.
The nominator for a special prize candidate may suggest the specific award they feel their candidate is best suited for, but the Cleveland Arts Prize Jury will make the final decision as to which Prize is awarded. Special Prize nominees are not notified of their nomination.
Nominations are accepted March 1 - June 1.
Special Prizes are honorary. Read more about them here.
Determination of Winners
Discipline Prize winners receive an unrestricted prize of $10,000 each. Special Prize recipients are honorary.
Winning applicants are selected by the Cleveland Arts Prize Jury, composed of artists, community leaders, and past winners. Their decision will be final and no further correspondence shall be considered.
Discipline applicants are reviewed through a two tier process. Each discipline's respective juries put forth up to three finalists to be reviewed by what is called The Academy Jury. This is the second and final round of review of the finalists from each discipline. The Academy Jury determines the Emerging Prize Winners, Mid-Career Prize Winners, and Lifetime Achievement Winner.
The Special Prize Jury members review all nominees and determine the winners for each of the Special Prizes.
2024 Jurors
Disciplines Jurors:
Design Michael Cristoff, Emily Applebaum, Dan Cuffaro
Literature Matt Weinkam, Ray McNiece (CAP '21), Charles Oberndorf, Stephanie Ginese (CAP '23)
Music Emily Laurance, Theresa May (CAP '21), Liza Grossman (CAP '16)
Theatre and Dance Pamela Young (CAP '14), Dale Heinen, Joan Meggitt, Maureen Burns
Visual Art John Williams (CAP '18), Kerry Davis, Grace Chin, Michael Loderstedt, Emily Liebert, Janice Lessman-Moss (CAP '19)
Academy Jurors: Felise Bagley (CAP '15), Cindy Barber (CAP '07), Raymond Bobgan (CAP '14), Eric Coble (CAP '07), Michael Dalby, Jason Hanley, Kathryn Karipides (CAP '74), Jonathan Kurtz (CAP '12), Lisa Kurzner, Valerie Mayen (CAP '14), Deidre McPherson, Jeff Niesel, John Orlock, Fabio Polanco, Gabriel Pollack, Jan Ridgeway, Jeffrey Strean, Douglas Max Utter (CAP '13)
Special Prize Jurors: Regennia Williams, Letitia Lopez, Anna Vedouras, Fran Belkin
Arts Prize Discipline and Special Prize Winners will be announced on or around August 1.
Discipline Prize funds will be distributed in December of the winning year.
INELIGIBILITY: Incomplete or late forms, past winners will not be considered.
VERGE Fellowships
Virtual Info Sessions scheduled! Click the date to register:
Monday, December 30, 11am - 1pm
Fellowship applications for the 2025 season are open December 6, 2024, through January 6, 2025.
Five (5) Verge Fellowships will be awarded annually an unrestricted stipend of $2,000. In addition to the awards, Verge fellows will have the opportunity to participate in a group and individual photoshoot, a recognition reception, and promotional media opportunities.
DESCRIPTION | Cleveland Arts Prize, with support from the Cleveland Foundation and Cuyahoga Arts and Culture award the (on the) Verge Fellowship to provide unrestricted monetary stipends to promising, developing artists within and across multiple disciplines. The program is designed to celebrate and support artists within initial, introductory levels of their artistry. The Verge Fellowship is intended to recognize and support artists on the verge of their arts career, at a level before they would be considered “emerging” artists, who demonstrate creativity, passion and commitment to their arts discipline. CAP will work with community partners to widely promote the Verge Fellowship, select winners and to support the artists during their fellowship period. This support may take the form of mentorship by CAP winners and exhibitions or other discipline specific opportunities by CAP partners.
Eligibility:
- Only one application per person will be accepted.
- Applicant must be at least 15 years of age.
- Applicant must reside in Cuyahoga County.
Verge Fellowships are generously supported by grants from Cuyahoga Arts & Culture and The Cleveland Foundation.
OVERVIEW | In 2018, Cleveland Arts Prize launched the (on the) Verge Fellowship to provide unrestricted monetary stipends to promising, developing artists within and across multiple disciplines. Like the Cleveland Arts Prize awards, the Verge Fellowship rewards artists in the Literary Arts, Visual Arts, Dance, Theatre, Music, and Design, as well as interdisciplinary practices.
DESCRIPTION | The program is designed to celebrate and support artists within initial, introductory levels of their artistry. The Verge Fellowship is intended to recognize and support artists on the verge of their arts career, at a level before they would be considered “emerging” artists, who demonstrate creativity, passion and commitment to their arts discipline. CAP will work with community partners to widely promote the Verge Fellowship, select winners and to support the artists during their fellowship period. This support may take the form of mentorship by CAP winners and exhibitions or other discipline specific opportunities by CAP partners.
GOALS
- Provide unrestricted financial resources to promising practicing artists.
- Provide mentorship for developing artists by trusted community partners.
- Identify and celebrate diverse Cleveland-area artists through an inclusive and accessible selection process.
AWARDS
CAP will award five (5) Verge Fellowships annually an unrestricted stipend of $2,000. In addition to the award, Verge fellows will have the opportunity to participate in a photoshoot, award ceremony, and promotional media opportunities.
SELECTION
CAP will work with arts and culture partners throughout the northeast Ohio region in the selection process and year of fellowship.
2025 Verge Jurors:
Amanda D. King, Verge ‘18
Aisia Jones; Committee Chair
Carol Malone; Verge '24
Kortney Morrow
Theresa May, CAP '21
Grafton Nunes; CAP Trustee, CAP '17
Antwoine Washington, Verge ‘19
Amanda D. King’s socially engaged creative endeavors combine visual communication & design, creative direction & consulting, and arts education to mobilize her community and reciprocate grace. King earned a JD at Case Western Reserve University School of Law and a A.B. in art history at Bryn Mawr College. King was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and lives in Cleveland, Ohio, where she manages her studio practice and serves as co-founding creative director of Shooting Without Bullets.
Aisia Jones is a community organizer, non-profit consultant and engagement strategist who served as the vice president of community empowerment for Midtown Cleveland. She is an alumna of Cleveland’s Neighborhood Leadership Institute and former outreach coordinator for Black Lives Matter Cleveland.
Carol Malone is a proud Cleveland resident who serves as the dynamic creator, researcher, writer, and dedicated host of the "Neighbor Up Spotlight" podcast which she launched in 2016. Born in Glenville, Carol's deep community roots inspire her multifaceted roles. She is a tireless advocate and storyteller, illuminating extraordinary efforts through her podcast while shaping Cleveland's narrative, one neighborhood at a time.
Kortney Morrow is a poet and writer creating from her studio in Cleveland, Ohio. Her work has received support from 68to05, The Academy of American Poets, The Studio Museum in Harlem, Prairie Schooner, Tin House, and Transition Magazine. Her debut poetry collection, Run It Back, was the winner of the 2024 Saturnalia Books Poetry Prize, judged by Carmen Giménez.
Theresa May is a musician, educator, and creator. She earned a Master of Music from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music and a Bachelor of Music from the University of Dayton. Theresa is adjunct faculty at Cuyahoga Community College where she teaches Applied Trumpet and Survey of World Music.
Grafton Nunes is the retired president of the Cleveland Institute of Art and former founding Dean of the Arts at Emerson College. His co-produced feature film, THE LOVELESS directed by Kathryn Bigelow, is in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
Antwoine Washington makes work inspired by the black experience in America. Through drawing and painting he creates realistic storytelling portraits. His work has been shown at the Cleveland Print Room, Worthington Yards, The Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, Rooms to Let and Artist Archives of the Western Reserve. Antwoine also started the non-profit organization, Museum of Creative Human Art as a vehicle to teach art through graphic design courses.
https://www.antwoinewashington.com/home
2025 Community Partners TO BE ANNOUNCED.
2024 Community Partners: Assembly for the Arts, Cleveland Print Room, Julia De Burgos Cultural Arts Center, Karamu House, LatinUs Theatre Company, Inc., The LGBT Community Center of Greater Cleveland, Praxis Fiber Workshop, and Shooting Without Bullets.
Partners will play an integral role in the support of selected fellows by providing space, professional development, exhibition venues or other resources to contribute to the artists’ growth and creative network. Mentorship is essential to the Verge Fellowship and partners will be called upon to provide unique support based on their organizational assets. Partners will be announced in the application period.
Partners are encouraged to mentor fellows through the following ways:
- Monthly or quarterly check-ins
- Engaging with the artist within the artist’s neighborhood
- Inviting artist to arts and culture events
- Providing exhibition/performance space to artists
ORGANIZATIONAL INTEGRATION
Verge Fellows are part of the CAP fabric and will be integrated in various ways. Including:
- Thought partners for ongoing Verge Fellowship program improvements
- Engaged as performers and presenters for CAP community programming (i.e. Past Masters, annual CAP Awards ceremony, CAP sponsored events)
RACIAL EQUITY
Intentional efforts to promote the Verge Fellowship to developing artists of color will be implemented. The partnerships with arts and culture organizations representing Cleveland’s diverse communities and arts perspectives are essential to the program's progress. CAP will maintain a standard of racial equity training for all Trustees of the Board.
The application consists of:
- 2 work samples
- Artist statement (250 word max)
- Short Bio (250 word max)
- Optional support materials: website, links to reviews, additional video/audio file of work, letters of reference, etc.
The winners will be selected and notified on or before February 1, 2025.
There is no fee to enter the contest.
The prize for each 5 VERGE Fellowships is an unrestricted $2,000.
Winners will be notified via email or phone and announced through all Cleveland Arts Prize social media outlets.
Two open office sessions will be held for application support and questions in December. These will be in person and virtual.
Eligibility
- Only one application per person will be accepted.
- Applicant must be at least 15 years of age.
- Applicant must reside in the Northeast Ohio area.
Intellectual Property
- Cleveland Arts Prize may use for any Cleveland Arts Prize promotional purposes, including, but not limited to display on websites, programming, and other physical and virtual materials.
- CAP reserves the right to choose not to use the winning entries as described in these guidelines.
- Cleveland Arts Prize reserves the right to use any other entry for promotional purposes in the future.
Determination of Winners
- The winning entries will be selected by the Cleveland Arts Prize Verge Jury. The Jury is comprised of CAP committee members and community partners. Their decision will be final and no further correspondence shall be considered.
- Entries will be judged on the strength of which submissions meet the following criteria:
- Quality of work
- Dedication to craft
- Intention and goals of the artist as indicated in Artist Statement and Bio.
Disclaimer
- CAP is not responsible for late, misdirected, incomplete, illegible, or otherwise unusable entries, including entries that are lost or unusable due to computer, internet, or electronic problems.
- CAP is not liable, for the purpose of winner and prize notification and delivery, in the event the applicant has provided incorrect, outdated, or otherwise invalid contact information.