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Five Honored at 32nd Annual Arts Awards
Nearly 500 people gathered on April 15 to honor five local arts supporters and celebrate the theme, “Cultural Investments Make Sense,” at the 32nd Annual Arts Awards. Presented by the Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville, the Arts Awards event was held on the stage of the Moran Theater at the Times-Union Center for the Performing Arts and sponsored by Regions Bank.
Darryl Reuben Hall received the Individual Arts Award for bringing art that enlightens to the Northside through his theater company, Stage Aurora. Since its founding in 1999, the company has presented 14 Mainstage productions including: Miss Evers’ Boys, Crowns, A Raisin in the Sun, and most recently Hall’s original play, Frat House. A native of Jacksonville, Hall provides artistic opportunities to local students through the Stage Aurora Summer Performing Arts Institute and the 100 Youth Voices Musical Theatre group. As a professional actor, Hall performs nationally as a member of the Actors’ Equity Association and has worked with notable actors including Eartha Kitt, Phylicia Rashad, and Leslie Uggams.
The Corporate Award was presented to Mayo Clinic for its Humanities in Medicine program, which offers concerts in auditoriums at the hospital, music and art in patient rooms, and cultural exhibits throughout the hospital. Additionally, doctors from Mayo’s Sports Medicine Program provide onsite care at the Beaches Fine Arts Series Triathlons and readiness workshops for the athletes. Mayo also partners with cultural organizations to produce community events including the upcoming “Scalpel to Sketch” exhibit at the Cummer Museum and “Upbeat Pink: A Musical Tribute to Breast Cancer Survivors,” produced by the UNF Music Department.
Carol McQueen, band director at the LaVilla School of the Arts, was named the 2008 Arts Educator. McQueen’s ensembles have been nationally recognized for excellence. She twice led the band to superior ratings at the prestigious Dixie Classic and the band was named an honor group at the Grand National Adjudicators Invitational. Her jazz bands have twice been selected to perform at The Chicago Mid-West International Band Clinic and the University of North Texas Jazz Festival. The jazz band has traveled to Europe four times to perform at the Montreaux and North Seas jazz festivals. McQueen’s distinctive teaching style was recognized in the independent film, Chops, set for national release this year.
The 2008 Small Business Award was presented to*Harrington Design Company*. For four years, Harrington Design has provided branding and creative design work for the Riverside Fine Arts Series. Further, the group formed the Harrington Arts Alliance as a way to advocate for and coordinate design services for area arts nonprofits. An alumnus of Flagler College, Jeff Harrington partners with the college’s graphic design department to provide cash awards to winners of an annual portfolio review.
A Special Recognition Award was presented to WJCT Public Broadcasting in celebration of its 50th Anniversary of providing high quality cultural and community programming to residents of the First Coast.
Keynote remarks were offered by Julie Muraco, senior managing director of NASDAQ Stock Market Capital Markets Group and a board member for Americans for the Arts, Washington, D.C., the nation’s leading nonprofit organization for advancing participation in the arts. Muraco addressed the importance of creativity and innovation in the contemporary business landscape. Winners received an original piece of art by Atlantic Beach artist Linda Broadfoot. The Cultural Council presents the Arts Awards annually to recognize extraordinary contributions to the growth of the arts in Jacksonville.