by Max Marbut
Staff Writer
The stage of the Moran Theater in the Times-Union Center has been the site of many performances over the years. From Broadway shows to concerts to presentations by former presidents and even professional wrestling, it’s a broad spectrum.
Tuesday, the stage was set with tables and chairs when a few hundred arts supporters gathered for the Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville’s 35th Annual Arts Awards. Each year, the event recognizes the contributions of local advocates of the arts, both individual and corporate.
Jim Van Vleck received this year’s Individual Arts Award for his strategic leadership and philanthropic partnerships throughout the cultural community. Since his retirement to Jacksonville 15 years ago, Van Vleck has served the interests of arts organizations through a variety of roles.
He is currently chair of The Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens, which is in its 50th year. Previously, he served on the board of the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra and was tapped to be its interim executive director during a transitional period for JSYM.
Van Vleck also is a trustee of The Community Foundation in Jacksonville and a panelist for the City’s Cultural Services Grant Review Panel.
Glendia Cooper was named the 2011 Arts Educator for her work both in the public schools and in the community. Previously the Arts Education Specialist for Duval County Schools at the Cummer, Cooper is an art teacher at Terry Parker High School. She has been involved in numerous community projects, including the Very Special Arts Festival, Lutheran Social Services’ “Empty Bowls” project and the City Kids Art Factory.
The Small Business Award went to Wingard Creative, a design and web development firm in Five Points. Wingard developed an iPad-driven interactive timeline for the Cummer’s 50th anniversary and also developed an MP3-based walking tour for Riverside Avondale Preservation featuring landmarks and historic structures in the neighborhoods.
The Corporate Award was presented to The Haskell Company for its recent work in the renovation of the Bryan-Gooding Planetarium at the Museum of Science & History.
The resulting multifunctional environment has welcomed more than 24,000 people since its reopening in November, a 162 percent increase in visitors. The Haskell Company has provided engineering expertise to several art in public places projects, including the Tillie Fowler Memorial on the Northbank Riverwalk and “Lyrical Light,” located in the Times-Union Center.
The Haskell Company also was recognized for its notable collection of contemporary artwork on display throughout the corporate headquarters on Riverside Avenue.
Keynote speaker Bill Holtsinger-Robinson is a consultant to ArtPrize, an arts competition that draws more than 250,000 people each year to Grand Rapids, Mich. The competition’s winners are selected by a public vote and cash prizes of $449,000 were awarded in 2010.
Holtsinger-Robinson said more than half the people who attend ArtPrize come to Grand Rapids from out of town, making it a way to “invigorate” the city’s downtown.
“The restaurants ran out of food and the hotels ran out of rooms. It’s new and it’s strange. We think of our prize as the world’s largest excuse to get creative,” he said.
Before the event, Holtsinger-Robinson said that in 2008, he was part of a group working on a project involving film festivals with the idea to have a festival in Grand Rapids.
After studying the logistics involved in curation, selecting the proper venues and the infrastructure involved in a juried competition, “we decided to do the opposite of a film festival. We created ArtPrize to be open to any type of media in all types of venues and have it juried by the public.”
A Special Recognition Award was presented to Mayor John Peyton for his championship of the arts during his eight years in office.
Peyton said one of the lessons he learned during his two terms as mayor is the importance of arts to the community. He also offered some fiscal planning advice to the new mayor and City Council members who will take office in July.
“The City’s arts funding is one-third of 1 percent of the budget. The small amount the City contributes really makes a difference. If anyone running for office tells you funding for nonprofits is the problem, they are dead wrong,” said Peyton.
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