Celebrating achievement by young, foreign-born music professionals
CALL FOR APPLICATIONS
New York, NY, May 16, 2012 — For the first time, the Vilcek Foundation has chosen the field of contemporary music as the award category for its 2013 Vilcek Prizes for Creative Promise in the Arts. Three immigrant artists will be selected to receive the prizes, which each come with a $35,000 cash award.
The Vilcek Prizes for Creative Promise were inaugurated in 2009, to draw attention to the role young immigrants play in sustaining the cultural vibrancy of the arts in the United States. The cash award that accompanies the prize is given to encourage and support young artists at a crucial time during their careers, when they often face significant challenges. Previous award categories have included film, culinary arts, literature, and dance.
Vocalists, instrumentalists, songwriters, producers, and disc jockeys (DJs) are invited to apply. Applicants must have been born abroad, be naturalized citizens or permanent residents of the United States, intend to pursue a career in the United States, and be no more than 30 years old as of December 31, 2012.
A panel of distinguished members of the music community will select the recipients of the prizes. The jury will consider the candidates’ artistic excellence, creativity, clarity of vision, and impact on the field of contemporary music.
“Immigrants have played a key role in expanding the many diverse genres of contemporary music,” said Marica Vilcek, Vice President of the Foundation. “It is one of the reasons American pop culture has become a worldwide phenomenon.”
Artists from every contemporary musical genre are invited to apply, including hip-hop, electronic dance music, country, heavy metal and more. A written application and work samples are required. The deadline for submission is August 14, 2012. Complete eligibility requirements and a link to the online application form can be found at www.vilcek.org.
The winners will be notified in November 2012 and honored at the Foundation’s annual awards ceremony in New York City, in April 2013.