Nominations sought for 2018 AMOCAT Arts Awards

AMOCAT Arts Award illustration designed by Chandler O’Leary

The Tacoma Arts Commission is accepting nominations for the 2018 AMOCAT Arts Awards, which recognize the people and organizations that positively impact Tacoma with their passion, innovation and commitment to the arts. Nominations will be accepted through Aug. 3, 2018.

The Tacoma Arts Commission will review all nominations and select one finalist in each award category based on the breadth and depth of the nominee’s community impact as well as the quality of the work being done by the nominee. Mayor Victoria Woodards will present the 2018 AMOCAT Arts Awards at Kaleidoscope, the Tacoma Arts Month opening party on Oct. 3, 2018.

Award Categories:

1. Community Outreach by an Individual– Community outreach, engagement and involvement in the arts in Tacoma by an individual
2. Community Outreach by an Organization– Community outreach, engagement and involvement in the arts in Tacoma by an organization
3. Arts Patron– A community partner who significantly supports or contributes to the arts in Tacoma

To Make a Nomination:

Fill out the online nomination form via Submittable: https://tacomaarts.submittable.com/submit. You must create a Submittable account in order to complete the form.

Past Award Winners:

In the category of Community Outreach by an Individual, past winners include: Michael Haeflinger, Lynn Di Nino, Jared Pappas-Kelley and Michael S. Lent, Laura and Matt Eklund, Lance Kagey and Tom Llewellyn, Linda Danforth, William Kupinse, Oliver Doriss, Stella Haioulani, Katy Evans, David Domkoski, Jessica Spring, Connie K. Walle, and Christopher Paul Jordan.

In the category of Community Outreach by an Organization, past winners include: Monkeyshines, Tacoma Art Museum and Museum of Glass Education Programs, Arts Impact, Tacoma School of the Arts, Barefoot Studios, Victory Music, King’s Books, Hilltop Artists, Fab-5, D.A.S.H. Center for the Arts, The Grand Cinema, Puget Sound Book Artists, Asia Pacific Cultural Center, Tacoma Public Library, and Tacoma Youth Symphony Association.

In the category of Arts Patron, past winners include: Tacoma Housing Authority, Sound Transit Art Program, Pierce Transit, Sixth Avenue Business District, The Weekly Volcano, Hotel Murano, City Arts, Urban Grace Church, The Greater Tacoma Community Foundation, Key Bank, Erivan and Helga Haub and family, ArtsFund, University of Washington Tacoma, and Metro Parks Tacoma.

More Information:

More information about the AMOCAT Arts Awards is available at cityoftacoma.org/amocat.

Summer SOULstice

The public is invited to join Kellie Richardson, Tacoma’s 2017-2019 Poet Laureate, for Summer SOULstice, an event at the intersection of creativity, community and commerce.

“June 21^st marks summer solstice, the longest day and shortest night of the year. SOULstice will hold space to celebrate this annual miracle by featuring emerging and established artists from marginalized communities. The work featured will carry themes of awakening and healing, personal connection to Earth and spirit, as well as the thread of human experience that connects us all. The weight of historical oppression, generational trauma has never diminished the indelible joy, creativity, innovation and pride of those on the margins. SOULstice underscores this victory.” – Kellie Richardson

What: Summer SOULstice
Where: Tacoma Art Museum, 1701 Pacific Avenue
When: Thursday, June 21, 2018, 5:30 – 8 p.m.
Cost: Free! RSVP requested at bit.ly/SOULsticeRSVP

Featured performers will include:

• Thy Nguyễn – poet, artivist and former Tacoma Poet Laureate
• Olivia Thomas – vocalist and visual artist
• Hybrid – local funk and soul band featuring celebrated bassist Annie Jones-Barnes

Painter and muralist Tiffanny Hammonds will create a live painting during the performances. In addition, an exhibit space and artist market will feature work from local artists and entrepreneurs. Work will include every medium and price range. Artists currently scheduled to exhibit work are: Nori Kimura, Collin Veenstra, Darishma Alphonse, Nina Vichayapai, Andre Pace, Andrew Lui Robinson, Christina Butcher/Blue Cactus Press, Amanda Drewniak, Kemba Opio, Sojourner Duxbury, Amelia Foster, Apple Cox, MiYoung Margolis, Chardanae, Elizabeth Archer Klein, and Kellie Richardson.

Tacoma Art Museum’s teen council, F.O.A.M., will also host an all-ages printmaking workshop during the event. For more information and free tickets, visit bit.ly/SOULsticeRSVP.

Summer SOULstice is produced in partnership with Tacoma Art Museum, the Tacoma Arts Commission and the City of Tacoma’s Office of Equity and Human Rights.