United Arts Alliance hosting first Janesville Area Creativity awards
To learn more
For more information about the Janesville Area Creativity awards and ArtsFest 2011, go online to rockcountyarts.com, send an e-mail to rockcountyarts@gmail.com or call (608) 752-9248.
Nomination forms can be downloaded from rockcountyarts.com.
Nominations are due Friday, Jan. 28.
Photo 
Yuri Rashkin
JANESVILLE — The envelope please …
In less than two months, presenters from the United Arts Alliance will be announcing the winners of the Janesville Area Creativity awards at ArtsFest 2011, Feb. 11 and 12.
Here's an introduction to the creativity awards, which are new, and to the annual ArtsFest, which has been celebrated for 15 years.
Q: What, exactly are the awards?
A: The Janesville Area Creativity awards were designed to celebrate creativity in a variety of artistic fields, said Yuri Rashkin, musician, Janesville City Council member and United Arts Alliance president.
"There is a lot of creativity in Janesville that might not be recognized in the strictest sense of what the arts are," Rashkin said.
There's also plenty of unrecognized creativity within "the arts" in the strictest sense: theater, painting, sculpture and pottery.
Q: What are the categories?
A: Advertising, arts educator, body artist, busker (street performer), CD/song, culinary, dance group, emerging star, fine artist, hair designer, live band, media personality, music performing venue, one-minute film, solo performer, theater costume, theater makeup/hair and theater production.
Q: Who can be nominated?
A: Janesville- and Milton-area residents, Rashkin said.
Q: How did the awards get started?
A: "It's an idea that's been tossed around for a while," Rashkin said. "There are awards shows in other cities; Madison has the Madison Area Music Awards, the MAMAS."
Rashkin and others also wanted something to be the "the capstone, the centerpiece of the arts festival."
Q: What else is going on during ArtsFest 2011?
A: The festival will be held at the Janesville Performing Arts Center and Hedberg Public Library and will include live performances, artists exhibiting and demonstrating, and opportunities for hands-on arts activities.
The winners of the creativity awards will be announced at 7:30 p.m. Friday.
Admission to the performances and the awards ceremony is $5, and there is a $1 suggested donation for ArtsFest itself. All proceeds go to the United Arts Alliance scholarship fund.
Jan 10, 2011 at 12:17 p.m.
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Nomination deadline is fast approaching - Friday, February 28. Send your nomination(s) today!
Dec 29, 2010 at 1:34 p.m.
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A positive move. Hope it takes hold.
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