Phoenix Awards

Phoenix Awards logo image

The Phoenix Awards honor and celebrate outstanding artistic achievement in the Lawrence community.

Since the inception of the Phoenix Awards in 1996, more than 155 local artists, sculptors, photographers, dancers, musicians, vocalists, educators, writers and literary supporters, administrators, organizations, and volunteers have been recognized by their peers and fellow Lawrencians. (You can see the list of all the awardees and the artists who made each award by clicking on the black tab marked, "Past Phoenix Award Winners," below.)

There are 10 categories for five awards: Arts Advocate, Arts Administrator, Arts Education, Design Arts, Literary Arts, Musical Arts, Performing Arts, Visual Arts, Volunteer in the Arts, and the Phoenix Award for Exceptional Artistic Achievement. There is also a "Creative Spaces" Award category which recognizes outstanding achievement in imaginative and environmentally forward-thinking place-making.

This year, the Lawrence Cultural Arts Commission is seeking a professional Lawrence artist or artist team to develop, design, and fabricate innovative, original artworks to serve as the annual Phoenix Awards to be presented in 2025 will mark the 25th anniversary of the Phoenix Awards.

The 2024 Artist Call/RFQ for the 2025 Phoenix Awards is here. The online artist application is below.

New deadline! Applications are due by 11:59 p.m. July 22, 2024. Online application below. . .

The 2023 awards by Toni Brou.

Photo of the six 2023 Phoenix Awards created by Toni Brou

Photo of the six 2023 Phoenix Awards created by Toni Brou

Phoenix Award Design & Creation

The individual awards for the annual recognitions are commissioned by the Cultural Arts Commission and created by a local artist or artist team. While creativity and innovation are encouraged, the awards must also be practically suitable for display and very well constructed to be able to survive handling and long-term display. Past awards are on view at the Carnegie Building conference room.

The 2024 Artist Call/RFQ for the 2025 Phoenix Awards is here. The online artist application is below. New Deadline! Applications are due by 11:59 p.m. July 22, 2024. The online application is below. . .

For more information, contact Porter Arneill at parneill@lawrenceks.org.

2024 Online Application Form

Name(Required)
Residential Address(Required)
Outline your approach to art-making and share insights regarding your interest in making next year’s Phoenix Awards. Include things like: what you bring to the project as an artist; challenges and/or sources of inspiration presented by the project; what you would hope to gain from this experience; and any other comments that might help to differentiate you as a candidate for this opportunity. This is not a request for proposals but if you’d like to share a concept or idea you may do so in the narrative of the letter or provide a concept sketch as a JPEG as one of your portfolio images.
Accepted file types: pdf, Max. file size: 200 MB.
Name Title Email Phone Actions
       
Provide two references
Accepted file types: pdf, Max. file size: 200 MB.
Provide past works as a PDF that clearly indicates your name and the title, dimensions, materials, and date of each artwork SAMPLE
Drop files here or
Max. file size: 200 MB, Max. files: 5.

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    The City of Lawrence does not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, religion, age, national origin, sexual orientation, or disability. Qualifications by City employees or their relatives, and members of the Artist Selection Panel or Cultural Art Commission or their relatives will not be considered.