By Somerset County Board of Freeholders
SOMERVILLE – The Somerset County Cultural and Heritage Commission is seeking nominations for the 2009 Excellence in the Arts Awards. The awards honor individuals and organizations demonstrating exemplary leadership and dedication to the fine and performing arts in Somerset County.
The deadline for nominations is Friday, June 26. Nomination forms are available online at www.co.somerset.nj.us under What’s New, or by calling (908) 231-7000, ext. 7246. Completed forms and supporting materials should be mailed no later than June 26 to the Cultural and Heritage Commission, 20 Grove St., P.O. Box 3000, Somerville, NJ 08876-1262. Nominations also may be hand delivered.
"Somerset County is fortunate to have a wealth of wonderful artistic talent,” said Freeholder Patricia Walsh, Cultural and Heritage Commission liaison. “In these challenging economic times, it is important to recognize that the arts in Somerset County provide jobs, tax revenues and educational opportunities. But the importance of the arts extends well beyond economics and education. The arts expand our horizons, unleash creativity and build bonds in our communities.”
“This is an opportunity to honor the entire arts community in Somerset County and to recognize the county’s outstanding artists, art educators and arts supporters,” said Ann Rosenblum, president of the Cultural and Heritage Commission. “We strongly encourage anyone who knows an innovative, dedicated or otherwise outstanding artist or friend of the arts in Somerset County to make a nomination.”
Award recipients will be publicly recognized during National Arts and Humanities Month at a reception and dinner in their honor at the Twin Brooks Country Club in Watchung on Thursday, Oct. 1. In addition to the award, one Aspiring Young Artist will receive a $500 scholarship from the Friends of Somerset County Culture & Heritage Inc. to continue his or her study of the arts.
The categories for nomination are:
Arts in Education or Mentorship: Intended for an educator, instructor or education affiliate, such as a parent-teacher organization, board of education, arts or music school, for outstanding contributions to the enhancement of arts education.
Arts in the Community: Nominations sought for an individual, corporation or local organization that demonstrates exemplary dedication to inspiring and encouraging the fine or performing arts in the community through innovative programming, outstanding vision and leadership, dedication to arts access and outreach, exemplary partnerships serving the arts, or volunteerism and philanthropy.
Aspiring Young Artist: Will be awarded to a Somerset County high school or college student who demonstrates excellence in the fine or performing arts, aspires to a career in the arts and is a role model of good citizenship. The Friends of Somerset County Culture & Heritage Inc. will present a $500 scholarship to the selected Aspiring Young Artist to further his or her continuing study of the arts.
The awards program is a biennial event. Recipients of the 2007 Excellence in the Arts Awards were Susan Bivona, Scott Beil, Paul Canada and Nancy Knutsen for Arts in Education, and the Raritan Valley Symphonic Band and Trilogy Repertory Company for Arts in the Community.
The Board of Chosen Freeholders, the Somerset County Cultural and Heritage Commission and the Friends of Somerset County Culture & Heritage Inc. are co-sponsors of the Excellence in the Arts Awards program. This program is administered by the Cultural and Heritage Commission’s Excellence in the Arts Awards Committee, comprised of commission board members, staff and advisory committee members.
For more information, contact Sallie de Barcza, programs coordinator, at [email protected] or (908) 231-7000, ext. 7246.

