OVERALL GUIDELINES FOR SONOMA COUNTY ARTIST AWARDS: Nominators and Artists
The Sonoma County Artist Awards program and the award of $5,000 for three artists, one from Perfoming, one from Music and one from Literary, is designed to encourage the continuing development of Sonoma County’s finest creative artists, and to recognize and reward creative excellence. In making the Awards our primary goals are:

• To help support a diverse array of visual, literary, music and performing artists.
• To develop a strong new voice in support of Sonoma County artists and the arts.
• To raise awareness of the value of artists in our community
• To engage the philanthropic community in supporting County artists.
• To facilitate dialogue and collaboration in the local arts community

Award Criteria for Artist and Organization consideration.
The primary consideration for a Sonoma County Artist Award is excellence –in both artistic merit and body of work. In addition artists should consider the potential impact of the award on the their work, career and their artistic discipline. When applying, please keep in mind the following criteria:

Unique artistic vision
Commitment to ones' craft at an energing point in ones' career.
Innovation and creativity
Diversity in various forms: culturally, demographically, stylistically and creatively

Process for Nominators nominating an Emerging Visual Artist:

• Artists nominated must currently reside in Sonoma County and have done so for a minimum of 2 years. Out of county students currently attending university or college in the county are not eligible unless they have 2 years residency. Please be aware of this status prior to nomination of an artist.
  
  
• Artists will not be able to submit any hard copy materials. The whole process is structured for online application and submissions including the nomination process. Artists should be able to submit videos, audio and documentation online via this site. If you wish to nominate an artist but are unsure as to their technical prowess for online submissions you may consider contacting a proxy aide who may assist the artist in their application.
  
  
• Please fill in as much detail as you can on the nomination form. As much contact information about yourself and the artist/s you are nominating as possible will help us to resolve any problems that may occur.
  
  
• You may nominate an artist in any one of the discipline options available in the choices box on the nomination form-(URL to the nomination form to be sent separately) or if desired just as 'artist'. If you selct a specific discipline and if the artist does not fit 'snugly' into any of those selections then you may select 'other'. An artist may change the discipline selection that you nominate them in. For example a fiber artist whose main thrust of work is in that medium may wish to apply as a pleine air artist rather than a fiber artist. It is the choice of the artist to determine the medium in which to be considered.
  
  
• We will not reveal to the artist who has nominated them. It is up to the nominator if they wish to tell the artist that they have nominated them.
  
  
• The award is both congratulatory and facilitatory. That is, the receipt of this award should be seen as something that will assist the artist in the continuance of their career as a Sonoma County Artist. That said, if the artist needs to pay rent arrears which will alleviate a worry that prevents them giving full attention to their creativity then that serves the purpose of the award. But, in general, the award should go some way in facilitating their creativity in a more specific artistic fashion.
  
  
• The amount of times an artist is nominated will not affect the panelists' decisions on the artists' merit as a potential winner. The final panelists will see only the work that the artist submits and not be aware of volume of their nominations.
  
  
• Nominators have been selected because we value their opinion and knowledge. Nominators are therefore limited in number. The nomination process is carefully overseen and any nominations from people not on the list of known nominators will be discarded and deemed void.
  
  
• We do not reveal the list of people who have been asked to nominate. However, because our community is close knit, a nominator may be nominated as a potential awardee themselves by another nominator. That is acceptable.
  
  
• It is vital that your nominee has access to the internet and holds a current valid email address. We will be using that method of communication only. We will not be postal mailing invitations to apply. Such invitations will be made exclusively via email. If you are unsure of your nominee's current online status please check before nominating them.
  
  
• A previous winner of a Sonoma County Artist Award is ineligible for another award until 10 years have elapsed. The list of previous winners may be found on the home page of this site.
  
  
  
  

  Deadline
  Nominations must be submitted by Midnight, Friday, March 18, 2011. All electronic nominations are date-stamped and therefore any nominations received after the deadline will be void.  

  Criteria
  Nominated artists must meet the following criteria:

  • Sonoma County residents fo two consecutive years
  • 18 years of age or older
  • Must NOT have gallery representation
  • Must NOT have had a solo exhibition at an established art institution such as a gallery or museum

  Process
  Each nominated artist will be notified of his or her nomination and encouraged to apply.  SCAA will select a Screening Committee, which consists of 5-7 art professionals, to review and select the top 20 finalists.  3 respected jurors from outside Sonoma County will then select the 3 winners to receive the award and take part in an exhibition at an esteemed art venue. 

Thank you for agreeing to participate in this process. If you have any questions please respond, via email or phone to Elaine Gutsch (email) or 707-579-2787 Ext 103