Guidelines for Ohio Heritage Fellowship Nomination
Nomination Deadline: March 15 The Ohio Heritage Fellowship program recognizes Ohio folk and traditional artists who are the finest and most influential masters of their particular art forms and traditions and whose work in the folk and traditional arts have had a significant impact on the people and communities of the state. Awards are given in three categories: Performing Arts, Material Culture (folk art, folk crafts, folk architecture) and Community Leadership. The OAC expects awardees to adhere to cultural artistic traditions and work in order to maintain the aesthetics and preservation of their art form, in the process contributing to the public visibility of the folk and traditional arts; be actively participating in their art form as a practitioner, a mentor, teacher or community leader; and be creating work of depth and brilliance that deepens our awareness of the rich and diverse cultural and artistic traditions of the people of Ohio.
A Community can be defined as a group of people who share common cultural elements, such as: ethnicity or tribal heritage, occupation, geographic area or traditional art form.
Ohio Heritage Fellowship Awards are $5,000
Performing Arts
Nominated individuals or groups should have a history of continuing artistic accomplishments and be actively participating in their art form as performers, teachers or both. Criteria in this category include authenticity, artistic excellence and significance within the tradition of the performing art form.Create a Nomination for an Ohio Heritage Fellowship Award in the Performing Arts.
Material Culture
Nominated individuals or groups should have a history of continuing artistic accomplishments and be actively participating in their art form as artists, teachers or both. Criteria in this category include authenticity, artistic excellence and significance within the tradition of the material culture art form.Create a Nomination for an Ohio Heritage Fellowship Award in Material Culture.
Community Leadership
Nominated individuals or groups should have a history of achievements that have had a positive impact on fostering excellence, ensuring vitality and promoting public appreciation of the folk and traditional arts in Ohio. Nominees must be actively engaged in preserving the folk and traditional arts.Create a Nomination for an Ohio Heritage Fellowship Award in Community Leadership.
Basic Nomination Guidelines for All Categories:
All Nominees must be residents of Ohio and must be living at the time of their nomination. Self-nomination is not permitted.Nominations remain active for three years and will be reviewed annually. Information may be added to a nomination during this three year period.
Nominations will be reviewed annually by the Ohio Folk Arts Committee, a panel of experts in the folk and traditional arts. The panel makes their recommendations to the Ohio Arts Council for final approval.
All nominations should include the following support materials which are mailed to the OAC after the online nomination is complete:
- Letters of Support for Nominee. Letters of support should be from community members who are knowledgeable about the traditional art form. A minimum of three letters must be submitted.
- Work Samples. Submit samples of work (DVDs, videotapes, cassettes, audio CDs, digital CDs, color slides or photographs) demonstrating artistic quality and technical ability. This enables the selection panel to evaluate nominees. These samples may be submitted together on a single disk or tape or may be submitted separately. Panelists may review some or all of submitted material. All audio-visual work samples must be accompanied by a Cover Sheet for Work Samples. Work samples that do not adhere to the guidelines may not be reviewed.
- Folk Craft: Submit five to 10 images of the work of the master artist-digital images on disk are preferred. If possible, include an image that shows the place in which your work is created.
- Music/Verbal Arts: Submit one copy of one sound recording (CD, DVD or videocassette) of the master artist. Provide a list identifying performers, instruments and the material being presented. Be sure to describe the typical audience and venue for this music/verbal art form on the Cover Sheet for Work Samples. Indicate track number(s) or cue tape to preferred starting point.
- Dance/Ethnic Theatre: Submit one copy of one video (DVD or videocassette) of the master artist that best demonstrates the quality of the work. Label the video with title and length of work; provide a list with a description of your dance form or theatre, performers and typical venue on the Cover Sheet for Work Samples. Indicate track number(s) or cue tape to preferred starting point.
Support materials must be received in the OAC office no more than seven calendar days after the application deadline date by 5 p.m. (regardless of postmarked date). If the support materials do not reach the OAC within this timeframe, the nomination will not be accepted.
You should read the full Heritage Fellowship Guidelines before making your nomination.
Questions to Consider for All Categories:
Why does this individual or group deserve statewide recognition?Does the nominee have a history of actively participating in their community? How have they done this?
Is the nominee considered a tradition bearer within their community?
What is the significance of the nominee within the artistic tradition?
Is there a level of artistic excellence?