Emerging Artist Award
The Forward Arts Foundation has a substantial history of arts funding in Atlanta since its beginnings in 1965. In 1999 the Foundation became concerned about dwindling support of public funding for individual artists in the greater Atlanta area. In an effort to address this need, the Foundation approved a new project; The Emerging Artist Award.
The Forward Arts Foundation Emerging Artist Award is presented each year to a talented Atlanta artist who has had no major solo show and is not connected with a commercial gallery. The award grants not only monetary support for an artist but also provides a venue for a solo exhibition at the Swan Coach House Gallery.
The Forward Arts Foundation Emerging Artist Award committee, chaired by Sara Hehir, consists of voting professional members from the Atlanta arts community and non-voting Foundation members who serve as administrators. The voting members recommend artists to be considered for the award. The field of candidates is narrowed down to five finalists by reviewing images of each artist’s current work. Final selection of the winner is made after the committee visits the five finalists’ studios. Only the professional members of the committee vote for the winner from the finalists. The top honoree receives a $10,000 grant and a solo show at the gallery the following summer. The other four finalists receive $2000 and have a piece included in the exhibition.
The 2011-2012 Emerging Artist Award winner is Tricia Patterson. Her exhibition will open at the Swan Coach House Gallery in September 2012 and runs through October Finalists included in this exhibition are Margaret Fletcher, Born, Seana Reilly,and Jessica Blinkhorn.
The Forward Arts Foundation
Emerging Artist Award
2000-2013
2013 Winner: Born (To exhibit in Spring 2013)
With Finalists: Kevin Byrd, Andre Keichian, John Paul Floyd, Romy Maloon
Sponsored by The Thomas R. and Loraine P. Williams Foundation
2012 Winner: Tricia Patterson (To exhibit in October 2012)
With Finalists: Margaret Fletcher, Born, Seana Reilly and Jessica Blinkhorn
Sponsored by The Thomas R. and Loraine P. Williams Foundation
2011 Winner: Lucha Rodriquez
With Finalists: Meg Aubrey, Chung Fan Chang, Hope Hilton, Dorothy O'Connor
Sponsored by The Thomas R. and Loraine P. Williams Foundation
2010 Winner: Cosmo Whyte
With finalists: Morolake Odeleye, Whitney Stansell, Dayna Thacker & Whitney Wood
Sponsored by The Thomas R. and Loraine P. Williams Foundation
2009 Winner: Paul S. Benjamin
With finalists: Anita Arliss, Richard Russell, Ruth Stanford & Stan Woodard
Sponsored by The Thomas R. and Loraine P. Williams Foundation
2008 Winner: Ben Roosevelt
With finalists: Sarah Emerson, Tindel-Michi, Addison Will & Robert Witherspoon
Sponsored by The Thomas R. and Loraine P. Williams Foundation
2007-Winner:Santiago de Paoli
2006-Winner:Ann-Marie Manker
2005 Winner: Grady Haugerud
2004 Winner: Matt Haffner
2003 Winner: Ruth Dusseault
2002 Winner: David Issenhour
2001 Winner: D.E. Johnson
2000 Winner: Carl Joe Williams