DETROIT – July 9, 2013 – Starting today, Detroiters can decide which of five up-and-coming arts organizations should receive $20,000 as the winner of the Knight Arts Challenge People’s Choice Award.
To vote, watch the nominees’ videos at KnightArts.org/peopleschoice and then text their individual number to 22333 through Aug. 9.
Knight Foundation launched the award to spotlight up-and-coming organizations, an important part of the city’s overall cultural scene.
The nominees are:
Complex Movements: An artist collective that expresses the connections between science and social justice through hip-hop, art-installations, interactive performance and technology; (Text ART1 to 22333)
East Side Riders: a group of artists who customize bikes as their means of creative expression; (Text ART2 to 22333)
Lo & Behold! Records & Books: a Hamtramck store that celebrates Detroit’s musical traditions through a monthly folk blues night; (Text ART3 to 22333)
Mt Elliott Makerspace: a village workshop providing a place where people can create, tinker and learn together; (Text ART4 to 22333)
The Secret Society of Twisted Storytellers: a curated, monthly event where Detroiters tell their true stories live onstage. (Text ART5 to 22333)
Launched in Detroit earlier this year, the Knight Arts Challenge is a community-wide contest supporting the best ideas for the arts. Sponsored by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, the challenge seeks out ideas that both engage and enrich Detroit communities.
As a way to shine the spotlight on smaller groups, Knight Foundation is asking the public to vote by text for their favorite of the five nominees. The group that receives the most votes will get $20,000 in unrestricted funds to use for a project.
Each People’s Choice nominee is one of 84 finalists in the 2013 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 in September.
“In Detroit there is a growing momentum of creatives and artists who are helping to drive the future of this city,” said Dennis Scholl, vice president for arts at Knight Foundation. “We hope the People’s Choice Award will shine a spotlight on both the nominees and the greater movement, so that more people will be a part of shaping Detroit.”
Voting by text is open through Aug. 9, 2013.
Find out more at knightarts.org/peopleschoice.
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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Contacts
Andrew Sherry, Vice President/Communications, (305) 908-2677, [email protected]