DETROIT – Aug. 1, 2014 – Starting today, Detroiters can vote for one of five small and emerging arts organizations vying for $20,000 as the winner of the 2014 Knight Arts Challenge People’s Choice Award.

As a way to shine the spotlight on smaller groups, the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation is asking the public to vote by text for their favorite of the five nominees to determine the People’s Choice Award winner. To vote, the public can text the nominees individual code to 22333 in the U.S. or 747-444-3548 toll-free, through Friday, Aug. 29. The effort is part of the Knight Arts Challenge, now in its second year funding the best ideas for the arts in Detroit.

The Knight Arts Challenge People’s Choice nominees are: 

A Host of People: a theater group celebrating the do-it-yourself movement in both food and the arts by creating a site-specific piece to be performed in community gardens around the city; (Text Detroit1 to 22333)

African Bead Museum: a center for African culture that wants to renovate its facilities and create more exhibition and programming space; (Text Detroit2 to 22333)

ARTLAB J: a troupe strengthening Detroit’s dance community by presenting Detroit Dance City Festival, a three-day celebration highlighting both local and national artists; (Text Detroit3 to 22333)

Ballet Folklorico Moyocoyani Izel: a dance group that wants to bring the traditional dances of Mexico’s La Huasteca region to Detroit by teaching the choreography locally; (Text Detroit4 to 22333)

Detroit Drumline Academy: a group of former drummers from Detroit-area schools that wants to prepare the next generation of percussionists by teaching and mentoring middle and high school students. (Text Detroit5 to 22333)

To learn more about the projects and to watch videos about them go to knightarts.org/peopleschoice.

“Some of the most exciting art in Detroit is happening at the grass-roots level, with small and emerging groups like those nominated for the Knight Arts Challenge People’s Choice Award,” said Dennis Scholl, vice president of arts for Knight Foundation. “We see the award as a fantastic way for Detroiters to become familiar with these groups, which are presenting art in their own backyards.”

Each People’s Choice nominee is one of 87 finalists in the 2014 Knight Arts Challenge and is still eligible for a challenge grant from Knight Foundation. Winners of both the challenge and the People’s Choice Award will be announced at an Oct, 6 event. The People’s Choice winner can use the $20,000 award for the artistic project of their choice.

Last year’s winner of the Knight Foundation People’s Choice Award was Hamtramck’s LO & BEHOLD! Records and Books. 

“This year, our five People’s Choice Award nominees represent a wide range of arts projects, but they share one commonality of being 100 percent committed to Detroit,” said Katy Locker, Detroit program director for Knight Foundation. “This variety of art not only shows that there is something for everyone, but it also brings out the best of our community.” 

The challenge is part of a $19.25 million investment in the Detroit arts that includes support for the three-year challenge, providing funding, exposure and momentum to smaller arts efforts, and $10.25 million to some of the city’s premiere cultural institutions: the Arab American National Museum, the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, Detroit Institute of Arts, Detroit School of Arts, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Michigan Opera Theatre and the Sphinx Organization.

For more on Knight Foundation’s arts initiative and to view a full list of Knight Arts Challenge winners, visit www.KnightArts.org. Connect on the Knight Arts Facebook page here and via @knightfdn and @knightarts on Twitter.

About the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation

Knight Foundation supports transformational ideas that promote quality journalism, advance media innovation, engage communities and foster the arts. We believe that democracy thrives when people and communities are informed and engaged. For more, visit www.knightfoundation.org.

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Media Contacts:

Anusha Alikhan, director of communications, Knight Foundation, (305) 908-2677, [email protected]

Peter Van Dyke, Partner, Berg Muirhead and Associates,  (313) 872-2202, [email protected]