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The Neddy Artists Fellowships are among the most prestigious art awards in the state and are granted each year to two worthy Washington state artists in honor of longtime Seattle painter Robert "Ned" Behnke, who died in 1989. The Fellowship is awarded to Northwest artists who demonstrate artistic excellence, innovation, unique vision, and a passionate commitment to their art and community.
Every year for the past seven years Tacoma Art Museum has shown works by the winners and nominees. That streak has ended.
The Behnke Foundation announced Cornish College of the Arts is the new institutional home for the Neddy.
Boo!
Here's what the Behnke Foundation has to say:
Sally S. Behnke announced today that, after fifteen years and twenty-five awards to artists, the Behnke Foundation has selected Cornish College of the Arts to administer the Neddy, an artist award program named after Robert E. (Ned) Behnke (1948-1989), son of Sally and Robert J. Behnke. Ned was a painter and beloved family member who was passionate about the value of art in the community.
The Neddy at Cornish will continue to make awards to two artists annually who demonstrate excellence in their artistic medium and a commitment to the belief that art can foster a more conscious, vital, and livable world.
"The Behnke Family has been proud to help raise the visibility of many extraordinary artists in our community over the last fifteen years," Sally said. "Originally developed by Shari Behnke, the Neddy has encouraged artists to grow and flourish in their artistic discipline, sustaining the vitality that artists bring to the region. The Behnke Foundation is pleased to turn the Neddy over to Cornish College of the Arts, and we look forward to Cornish helping to continue Ned's vision of the arts through the growth and expansion of the Neddy award."
Cornish will introduce several major changes to the program in 2012. The selection process, previously by nomination, will now commence with an open call for applications. The individual grant award amount has been raised to $25,000 from $15,000. In addition to an award in painting, the second award will not be restricted by medium; rather it will be open to any medium or combination of media grounded in the visual arts.
Cornish will continue the practice of celebrating the awarded artists and finalists in an annual Neddy exhibition. As a new option, Cornish will enhance the program by making its resources available to the artist throughout the year, allowing specific activities to develop by mutual agreement between the artist and Cornish. This opportunity reflects the stated missions of the Neddy and Cornish, both of which speak to the power of art to enliven communities.
Cornish President Dr. Nancy J. Uscher remarked: "Cornish College of the Arts is very honored to become the home for the Neddy, an important vehicle for recognizing the outstanding visual artists of our time. I believe that this award program, celebrating the spirit and creativity of its namesake, Robert E. (Ned) Behnke, will have great impact in reinforcing the message that art is an essential and rich component of a healthy and vibrant world."
More information and Neddy application guidelines will be available on the Cornish website at the end of November.
About the Behnke Foundation: the Behnke Foundation is a private family foundation whose purpose is to help improve the quality of life in the communities where the Behnke families live and work. Through focused innovative grantmaking, the foundation funds non-profit organizations in the Pacific Northwest.
About Cornish College of the Arts: the mission of Cornish College of the Arts is to provide students aspiring to become practicing artists with an educational program of the highest possible quality, in an environment that nurtures creativity and intellectual curiosity, while preparing them to contribute to society as artists, citizens, and innovators.
Cornish realizes this mission by offering baccalaureate studies in the performing and visual arts and by serving as a focal point in the community for public presentation, artistic criticism, participation and discussion of the arts.