CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – Nominations are being sought for the coveted Acuff Circle of Excellence Ovation Awards in the arts that will be presented on March 6.
The Circle, a non-profit organization affiliated with the Austin Peay State University Foundation, is a patron society of the Center of Excellence for the Creative Arts. The awards have been presented since 1996.
The nominees must have made significant contributions to the artistic and cultural life of the Clarksville-Montgomery County community. Anyone can submit nominations. Nominations will be accepted through Wednesday, Jan. 20.
The award categories in which nominations are sought are:
Individual Artist: A living Tennessee artist, active in the field of literature, visual arts, performing arts, music, folk arts, architecture or design, wholives or lived in Montgomery County.
Community: A Clarksville-Montgomery County community organization or institution with an outstanding arts-based community program or project. Schools and the schooldistrict are not eligible in this category.
Business: A business or corporation that has made a significant contribution to support arts and culture in Montgomery County. Government agencies are not eligible.
The Young Artist Awards also will be presented to high school seniors in Clarksville-Montgomery County, but the deadline for this category was Dec. 18. The winners in this category must have shown exceptional gifts through student or community performances, exhibitions or publications. Category awards are visual arts, theatre, instrumental music, vocal performance and creative writing.
Winners in each category also receive preference when applying for the annual $1,000 endowed scholarship in the arts, which the Acuff Circle has established at Austin Peay.
The Ovation Awards also include The George Mabry Award. Nominees for this honor come from the Acuff Circle board. It recognizes a living Tennessean who has made a significant impact on arts and culture in Montgomery County through philanthropy, leadership or direct involvement, or a Tennessee individual who has advanced arts and culture through innovative work in creating or supporting the arts in Montgomery County.
To nominate someone in the Individual, Community or Business categories, submit a completed nomination form that can be downloaded at www.apsu.edu/creativearts/ovation. Forms for the Individual, Community or Business categories also can be obtained at the Customs House Museum, whichco-sponsors the awards ceremony; the Clarksville-Montgomery County Public Library, or the Clarksville Area Chamber of Commerce.
The nomination should include a description of up to 250 words of the individual’s or organization’s artistic contributions. Nominations can be emailed to cannonm@apsu.edu at the Center of Excellence for the Creative Arts, or mailed to Ovation Awards, Center of Excellence for the Creative Arts, Austin Peay State University, Box 4666, Clarksville, TN 37044.