2007 BRIO Awards presented on june 6th

Twenty-two Bronx artists were recipients of the Bronx Council on the Arts’ (BCA) prestigious BRIO (Bronx Recognizes Its Own) Award for artistic excellence at a June 6th award presentation ceremony at the Longwood Art Gallery at Hostos Community College. This ceremony was one of many activities that make up BCA’s BX1: Second Bronx Artist Biennial. This event coincided with BCA’s First Wednesday/Bronx Culture Trolley.

The above 2007 BRIO Award recipients each received a grant of $2,500.
They are:

In Literary Arts:

• Carlos Serrano (Playwriting)
• Bruce Tallerman (Fiction)
• Julio Toro (Screenwriting)

In Media Arts:

• Pamela Sporn (Documentary Film/Video)

In Performing Arts:

• Jessica Danser (Choreography)
• Bradon McDonald (Dance)
• Maxim Pakhomov (Instrumental Music)
• PattyDukes (Vocal Music)
• Jennifer Shyu (Music Composition)
• Muhamadou Salieu Suso (Instrumental Music)
• Nelida Tirado (Dance)
• Rhina Valentin (Acting)

In Visual Arts:

• Blanka Amezkua (Crafts)
• Melisa Baez (Illustration/Drawing)
• Reina Mia Brill (Crafts)
• Toby Buonagurio (Sculpture)
• Peter Cabot (Mixed Media)
• Marisol Diaz (Photography)
• Joel Neff (Crafts)
• Danny R. Peralta (Photography)
• Ron Terner (Photography)
• Lois Weingarten (Painting)

Click here for additional background information on this years BRIO winners.

The June 6th BRIO Award presentation ceremony was among the many activities that took place during that evening’s Bronx Culture Trolley which coincided with BCA’s BX1: Second Bronx Artist Biennial. Activities included exhibitions and performances by 2007 and 2006 BRIO winners.

For further information about BCA’s BRIO program, contact Lydia Clark at 718-931-9500 x35 or lydia@bronxarts.org. For information on the Bronx Culture Trolley or other events and activities of the Bronx Council on the Arts, visit www.bronxarts.org. Hostos Community College is located at 450 Grand Concourse at 149th Street in the Bronx. Take the 2, 4, or 5 train to 149th Street & Grand Concourse. Click here for additional directions.

BRIO Awardees must complete a one-time public service activity to receive their complete cash award. Known as the ACE (Artists for Community Enrichment), this activity is an essential component for all BRIO recipients and must be performed within the one-year period of their award. The ACE provides artists with additional visibility and demonstrates to the community the wealth of artistic talent available in our borough.

Since its inception in 1989, the BRIO Awards program has continued to provide support for the artistic development of Bronx artists. Over the years, more than $500,000 has been awarded to 185 artists. The selection of the awardees is based solely on the artistic excellence of the work submitted and judged anonymously by a panel of professional artists (different panelists each year) from outside the Bronx and working in each respective field.

Over its 18 years, the BRIO program has grown from 10 annual awards of $1500 to 22 annual awards of $2500. The Bronx has the unique distinction of being the only borough in New York City to have its own ongoing fellowship awards for artists. Former BRIO winners include Bessie-winning choreographer Arthur Aviles, author James McSherry (A Clean Street is a Happy Street), printmaker Alejandra Delfin, and performer/writer Steven Sapp (Slanguage)

Funding for BRIO is provided by the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs-Greater New York Arts Development Fund. Additional support is provided through the Office of Bronx Borough President Adolfo Carrion, Jr., the Bronx Delegation of the City Council, and the New York State Council on the Arts.