ArtsBuild is accepting nominations for the 2021 Ruth Holmberg Arts Leadership Award. This annual award recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to the arts in Chattanooga and who are actively engaged in the cultural life of our community. New this year, ArtsBuild will give the Ruth Holmberg Arts Leadership award to two individuals.
Nominations are encouraged for anyone who is an “Arts Builder,” or those people who exemplify ArtsBuild’s mission to build a stronger community through the arts as demonstrated by their significant contributions to the arts and leadership in the arts community.
Nominees could be described by any of these examples. Someone who has:
• given generously of their own financial resources (a philanthropist)
• garnered philanthropic support from others (a fundraiser)
• made an impact locally through their art form (an artist)
• inspired young people through arts education (a teacher)
• offered tireless service within the arts community (a volunteer)
• led by speaking and writing about the importance of the arts (an advocate)
• successfully led or started an arts organization or arts program (an administrator)
• led through policy, action, and strategic direction for the arts (a board member)
• or anyone else who has demonstrated exemplary support of the arts in Chattanooga
The inaugural Arts Leadership Award took place in 2014. The first award recognized Ruth Holmberg for her extraordinary support of the arts and cultural community in Chattanooga over 70 years. Since 2014, the annual award has honored Mrs. Holmberg with her name as the Ruth Holmberg Arts Leadership Award. Past recipients include Mai Bell Hurley, Fletcher Bright, Sonia Young, Booker T. Scruggs II, Alice L. Smith, Warren Barnett and Candy Kruesi.
“It is our hope that this annual award honors individuals who share the same spirit and passion for the arts as Ruth did,” said Dr. Mary Poston Tanner, board chair of ArtsBuild. “Recipients of the Ruth Holmberg Arts Leadership Award have given selflessly of their time, energy, and resources to building a stronger community through the arts.”
Details about the nomination criteria and the nomination form can be found on ArtsBuild’s website at http://www.artsbuild.com/arts-leadership. For questions, contact Kathryn Wroth, director of Development at ArtsBuild, at 777-4212 or email artsbuild@artsbuild.com.
The deadline for nominations is Wednesday, March 31, at 11:59 p.m.
The 2021 Ruth Holmberg Arts Leadership Award recipients will be selected between April and May and will be honored and recognized publicly in early June. However, there will not be an in-person reception planned at this time.