Press Release: Playwright Jacqueline E. Lawton Pens Script for 2013 Mayor's Arts Awards
The DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities (DCCAH) will present the 28th Annual Mayor's Arts Awards on Tuesday, October 22 at 7:00 PM at the celebrated Warner Theatre. The ceremony is free and open to the public. E. Faye Butler, Helen Hayes Award Winner 2013 for Outstanding Supporting Actress, Resident Play, will host the evening’s festivities. Critically acclaimed playwright Jacqueline E. Lawton will write the ceremony script.
The Mayor's Arts Award is the highest honor conferred by the District of Columbia in recognition of artistic excellence and service among artists, arts organizations and arts patrons in the city.
“The Mayor’s Arts Awards celebrates the very best of our thriving and diverse arts community,” said Judith Terra, Chair of the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities. “The honorees and nominees represent some of the top artists, arts organizations and educators in the nation, showcasing the District as a world-class cultural capital.”
“The Commission is proud to present the Mayor's Arts Awards to honor the District's premier individual artists, arts organizations, and patrons of the arts," said Lionell Thomas, Executive Director of DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities. "This year’s theme celebrates the creative industries and spotlights the significance of our city's vibrant arts and entertainment community. The District’s creative industries - arts, film, theater - contribute to both our cultural heritage and our economy.”
"I was honored to be asked write the script for the Mayor's Arts Awards," said Jacqueline Lawton, Playwright. "The Award Ceremony is wonderful time to celebrate the cultural and economic contribution of the arts and humanities to the D.C. community. Also, the Commission doesn't such amazing work do in support of the arts. They make it possible for many artists to launch and sustain their careers.."
This year’s awards will be presented in the following categories: Excellence in an Artistic Discipline, Excellence in Service to the Arts, Innovation in the Arts, Outstanding Contribution to Arts Education, Outstanding Emerging Artist and Mayor's Award for Arts Teaching (visual, performing and language arts). Finalists were chosen by the Mayor's Arts Awards Advisory Jury comprised of prominent members of the District's arts community with expertise in dance, music, theatre, literary arts, visual arts and arts education.
“The District of Columbia has become a national and international arts leader largely due to the drive and talents of our creative individuals and organizations,” said Mayor Vincent Gray. “The District’s arts, entertainment and creative industries are booming, contributing to our sustainability and helping to make the city a better place to live, visit, work and play. This year’s Mayor’s Arts Awards finalists showcase the best that the District has to offer.”
“The Mayor’s Arts Awards celebrates the District’s thriving and diverse arts community,” said Judith Terra, Chair of the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities. “The nominees represent the artists, arts organizations and educators who have made the District a world-class cultural capital.”
“The District of Columbia has the finest artists in the country,said Jacqueline Lawton, Playwright. "It is a sincere privilege in write in honor and champion the great work they are doing to enrich, enlighten and educate this community. My hope is that you will come out to celebrate their achievements."
RSVPs are strongly encouraged. Seating is distributed on a first come, first served basis. Click here to reserve seats. For additional information on the Mayor's Arts Awards or other DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities programs, please call (202) 724-5613.
About the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities
The DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities (DCCAH) provides grants, professional opportunities, education enrichment, other programs and services to individuals and nonprofit organizations in all communities within the District of Columbia.
The Arts Commission is supported primarily by District government funds and in part by the National Endowment for the Arts.
The Mayor's Arts Award is the highest honor conferred by the District of Columbia in recognition of artistic excellence and service among artists, arts organizations and arts patrons in the city.
“The Mayor’s Arts Awards celebrates the very best of our thriving and diverse arts community,” said Judith Terra, Chair of the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities. “The honorees and nominees represent some of the top artists, arts organizations and educators in the nation, showcasing the District as a world-class cultural capital.”
“The Commission is proud to present the Mayor's Arts Awards to honor the District's premier individual artists, arts organizations, and patrons of the arts," said Lionell Thomas, Executive Director of DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities. "This year’s theme celebrates the creative industries and spotlights the significance of our city's vibrant arts and entertainment community. The District’s creative industries - arts, film, theater - contribute to both our cultural heritage and our economy.”
"I was honored to be asked write the script for the Mayor's Arts Awards," said Jacqueline Lawton, Playwright. "The Award Ceremony is wonderful time to celebrate the cultural and economic contribution of the arts and humanities to the D.C. community. Also, the Commission doesn't such amazing work do in support of the arts. They make it possible for many artists to launch and sustain their careers.."
This year’s awards will be presented in the following categories: Excellence in an Artistic Discipline, Excellence in Service to the Arts, Innovation in the Arts, Outstanding Contribution to Arts Education, Outstanding Emerging Artist and Mayor's Award for Arts Teaching (visual, performing and language arts). Finalists were chosen by the Mayor's Arts Awards Advisory Jury comprised of prominent members of the District's arts community with expertise in dance, music, theatre, literary arts, visual arts and arts education.
“The District of Columbia has become a national and international arts leader largely due to the drive and talents of our creative individuals and organizations,” said Mayor Vincent Gray. “The District’s arts, entertainment and creative industries are booming, contributing to our sustainability and helping to make the city a better place to live, visit, work and play. This year’s Mayor’s Arts Awards finalists showcase the best that the District has to offer.”
“The Mayor’s Arts Awards celebrates the District’s thriving and diverse arts community,” said Judith Terra, Chair of the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities. “The nominees represent the artists, arts organizations and educators who have made the District a world-class cultural capital.”
“The District of Columbia has the finest artists in the country,said Jacqueline Lawton, Playwright. "It is a sincere privilege in write in honor and champion the great work they are doing to enrich, enlighten and educate this community. My hope is that you will come out to celebrate their achievements."
RSVPs are strongly encouraged. Seating is distributed on a first come, first served basis. Click here to reserve seats. For additional information on the Mayor's Arts Awards or other DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities programs, please call (202) 724-5613.
About the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities
The DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities (DCCAH) provides grants, professional opportunities, education enrichment, other programs and services to individuals and nonprofit organizations in all communities within the District of Columbia.
The Arts Commission is supported primarily by District government funds and in part by the National Endowment for the Arts.
Jacqueline E. Lawton was named one of 30 of the nation's leading black playwrights by Arena Stage’s American Voices New Play Institute. Her plays include: Anna K; Blood-bound and Tongue-tied; Deep Belly Beautiful;The Devil’s Sweet Water; The Hampton Years; Ira Aldridge: the African Roscius; Lions of Industry, Mothers of Invention; Love Brothers Serenade (2013 semi-finalist for the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center’s National Playwrights Conference), Mad Breed, and Our Man Beverly Snow. Lawton’s work has been developed and presented at the following venues: Active Cultures, Classical Theater of Harlem, Folger Shakespeare Library, theHegira, Howard University, Kennedy Center’s Page to Stage Festival, Rorschach Theater Company, Savannah Black Heritage Festival (Armstrong Atlantic State University), Shakespeare Theatre Company, Source Theatre Festival, Theater J, and Woolly Mammoth Theater Company. She is published in Experiments in a Jazz Aesthetic: Art, Activism, Academia, and the Austin Project (University of Texas Press). Ms. Lawton received her MFA in Playwriting from the University of Texas at Austin, where she was a James A. Michener Fellow. She participated in the Kennedy Center’s Playwrights’ Intensive (2002) and World Interplay (2003). She is a 2012 TCG Young Leaders of Color award recipient and a National New Play Network (NNPN) Playwright Alumna. She has been recognized as a semi-finalist for the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center’s National Playwrights Conference and the Playwright's Center PlayLabs, and as a SheWrites Festival finalist. A member of Arena Stage's Playwright's Arena and the Dramatist Guild of America, Ms. Lawton currently resides in Washington, D.C.