The Licking County Foundation launched a new initiative that seeks to increase access and awareness of culture and arts in the county.
The Constance J. Hawk Prize for the Arts is a countywide plan to spur innovation in arts across the region, the foundation said in a news release. Explore Licking County Programs Director Janice LoRaso will spearhead the effort for the next three years and lead a group of community arts and culture leaders who plan to help support some of the initiative’s goals.
The organization hopes the initiative produces new public art for municipalities in Licking County. Staff aim to have at least one new piece each year.
The prize also offers a $30,00 award to support a collaboration between an artist and nonprofit organization, the release states. The string quartet Ethel is the first recipient of the prize, the foundation said.
Since 2014, Ethel has served as Denison University’s ensemble-in-residence, according to its website.
“By bringing world-class artistry directly to the people of Licking County, this program aims to strengthen civic life through music,” Licking County Foundation Program, Grant and Capacity Building Officer Bobby Persinger said in the release. “The Ethel residency is designed to engage diverse segments of our community through performances, interactive workshops, collaborative events and creative dialogue.”
The Ethel residency at Denison will take place in November, the release states. Licking County Aging Partners, Newark-Granville Youth Symphony Orchestra and The Works are some organizations that will assist that effort.
“Ethel’s residency will continue to build on its 12-plus-year residency at Denison University and their ability to relate music and the arts to a variety of subjects and experiences make them the perfect match for this community-based residency,” LoRaso said in the release.
As part of the new initiative, the foundation will host a new artist during a community reception every quarter. It also established a new fund that will support arts organizations in the county, as well as some of the goals such as the quarterly reception and new public art pieces.
The prize is named after former Licking County Foundation Director Connie Hawk. She serves as the organization’s strategic initiatives director and played an integral role in the revival of the Louis Sullivan Building of Newark.
In the release, the foundation said Hawk is an advocate for the arts in the county and that her time with the organization has led to increased collaboration between community artists and organizations.
The initiative is the second the foundation has launched in recent months. In March, it began a campaign to broaden understanding of homelessness in the county and add navigators who will help people experiencing homelessness access support services.
Advocate reporter Josué Perez can be reached at jhperez@newarkadvocate.com.
This article originally appeared on Newark Advocate: Licking County Foundation boosts local arts scene with new prize
Reporting by Josué Perez, Newark Advocate / Newark Advocate
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By Josué Perez, Newark Advocate | USA TODAY Network
