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ALLI Awards



 Cultural Alliance of Greater  Hampton Roads

Contact:  Patricia Rublein

Executive Director

(o)757.889.9479(cell) 757.870.2025

Fax: 757.489.0007 or 757.229.7920

 

 

2010 ALLI Awards Honor Regional Arts and Culture Leaders

 

HAMPTON ROADS, VA & The stars of arts advocacy from throughout Hampton Roads were honored on November 14th,   at the 2010  ALLI Awards ceremonies,  presented at a gala gathering held at the The American Theatre in Hampton.  The 2010 ALLI Awards were underwritten by SunTrust Bank and through contributions from several area businesses and individuals.  Todd Rosenlieb, of the premier dance group TRDance,  and a past ALLI Award recipient, presided as master of ceremonies for the event, which also included performances by members of the TRDance Company.

            Ann Dearsley Vernon, is this years recipient of the Vianne B. Webb Lifetime Achievement Award.  Vernon was recognized for her long career and passion in her devotion to arts education.  She is Director of Education Emeritus at the Chrysler Museum of Art, having created museums nationally recognized docent program.  She was also saluted for her stand against public censorship of the arts and for her fine service to the Gifted and Talented program of the Norfolk Public Schools.

            Another highlight of the event was the awarding of the Bettie Minette Cooper Arts Educator ALLI Award which was presented to Patrick Mullins, Associate Director of Virginia Stage Company.  Building on his work as a school teacher, Mullins conducts school touring performances.  In the process he creates a new vision for the theatre among young people, engaging teens to perform in classics like, Romeo and Juliet.  His project CULTIVATE has developed an every-growing list of presentations that bring the theatre, literature and education together for increased knowledge and understanding for young participants. The award is named for the long-time advocate for arts education, Bettie Minette Cooper, and is presented annually to an educator whose mentorship and teaching practice stands out among peers. 

            This year the Alliance presented a new category of award to Susan B. Hirschbiel,  in recognition of  Creative Leadership.  The award is added to honor extraordinary activities that expand the reach of arts and culture statewide while, at the same time, bringing distinction to Hampton Roads.  Hirschbiel chaired the statewide Minds Wide Open project for the Virginia Commission for the Arts this past year.  The initiative supported over 10,000 performances and exhibitions throughout Virginia.  She also serves as a board member to numerous, local arts organizations.

AltDaily.com, a new, independent alternative for news, was presented with this years Media Award was honored for its commentary and insights into the arts scene and its broad forum for artists to share writing and images.  The project Art Everywhere, a festival of art on Granby Street, the Friday Featured Artists and local music coverage are a few of their achievements in creating visibility for all the arts.

Arts professionals awarded with ALLIs include Susan Bernard, honored for her extensive work in founding and nurturing the success of the dArt Center in Norfolk.  Also awarded an ALLI is Jackie Merritt, a teacher, artist and musician. She teaches drawing and painting to many area students, widely exhibits her paintings and has won numerous awards.  Merritt is also a musician, recognized as a local favorite by Paul Shugrue of WHRV-FM.

Volunteers in the regions arts communities who were ALLI Award recipients include Karen Anderson Schwartz, for her creation and management of the Buddy Art program for This Century Art Gallery in Williamsburg.   Anthony Tony Stella, of Newport News received an award for his long service to various art centers  including the Peninsula Fine Arts Center, the Charles Taylor Arts Center and community theatre.  Also, George Ware, for his volunteer efforts on behalf of the Hampton Arts League, the creation of  Tuesday Morning Painter and organizing painting groups for retirement communities.  He also chairs the public art steering committee for the city of Hampton.

Two Business Alli Awards were presented.  John Lawson accepted an award to W.M. Jordan Company recognizing over 20 years of service to area arts boards and his generosity in his work with numerous arts and cultural construction projects.  Tommy OConnor  also was presented an award for his generosity as a businessman to a lifetime of advocacy and volunteer hours to arts institutions in Suffolk.  He was instrumental in the renovation of the Suffolk Center for the Cultural Arts.

                       

The Cultural Alliance has sponsored the ALLI Awards annually since 1987 to honor local arts and cultural organizations and those individuals who support them through gifts of time and resources. To be considered for an ALLI Award, nominees must have directly benefited the arts and culture community through extraordinary means such as goods and services, space, volunteer time, cash grants, publicity or other means of assistance.  A regional program, the ALLI Awards changes its Hampton Roads rotates its venue location with each event.  Now taking a biennial schedule, the next awards ceremony will be held in 2012.  Additional information about the ALLI Awards and/or the Cultural Alliance may be found at www.culturalli.org or by phoning 757.889.9479.








 

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