NORMAN –Nominations for the biennial $40,000 Thatcher Hoffman Smith Creativity in Motion Prize honoring the creative process are being sought by the University of Oklahoma College of Arts and Sciences. The prize was established in 2002 to recognize and encourage the process of creativity as it unfolds and is expressed by individuals in diverse ways. The deadline for Phase One of the application process is Aug. 30, 2008.
Oklahoma City supporter and award founder Jeanne Hoffman Smith says she established the award to focus on and further society’s awareness of this important and often under-explored area. “The goal of the prize is to stimulate a better understanding of the creative process itself and to motivate creative individuals to develop their own original ideas into projects,” she says. “We are excited to announce the fourth round of submissions for this biennial prize.”
“Receiving the Thatcher Hoffman Smith Creativity in Motion Prize is the most gratifying award I’ve ever received in the arts because it came from folks who had never heard of my work and had little or no experience with the world of experimental film,” writes 2007 winner Philip Solomon, “Therefore, the final decision was based solely on the merits of my presentation and my demo materials, and had none of the ‘inside job’ aspects that are inevitable for the major awards panels in the arts.
“This award is about good faith. They write you a check, pat you on the back and say ‘go ahead, we believe in you,’ with no strings attached or reports to file. They also insist on helping along a project that is already in progress (in motion) which really means that that prize will allow artists to truly ‘bring the project home’. This prize will truly allow me to finish this most ambitious project of my career. I will honor this good faith by creating as fine a work of which I am capable.”
“The Thatcher Hoffman Smith Prize reflects a growing need to financially and culturally support our country’s original thinkers,” said University of Oklahoma President David Boren. “The fact that a university with OU’s tradition of academic excellence is home to such a generous and forward-thinking concept makes me very proud. It’s a natural partnership.”
Paul Bell Jr., dean of the College of Arts and Sciences which manages the prize, said that the college strives to be creative both in the selection process and award promotions. “We involved both current students and alumni in the initial screening of applications to ensure that the various proposals are evaluated from a variety of points of view. We also work with Jeanne Hoffman Smith to plan an award ceremony that reflects the nature of the winning proposal and is itself creative.” Previous award ceremonies have included a workshop on the creative process, a Socrates Café and a screening of the Flaming Lips concert film, “UFOs at the Zoo.”
Any U.S. citizen is eligible to apply for the award. Submissions are open to all fields of creativity, including, but not limited to, the arts, cultural affairs, education and science. Applicants are asked to submit an application found on the Web site, with an optional one-page letter detailing the creative process to date of the project they are submitting for consideration. The summary should describe the vision and purpose of the project, and why it should receive special recognition. The focus must be on the creative process itself (completed projects will not be considered). Four copies must be signed, dated and postmarked by midnight on Aug. 30. Applications should be sent to Creativity in Motion, University of Oklahoma College of Arts and Sciences, 633 Elm Ave., Norman, OK, 73018-3118. After reviewing the letters, 50 individuals will be notified by October, 2008, that they have been chosen to submit full applications, which must be completed and sent back by Jan. 15, 2009. A panel of expert jurors will review proposals and select and notify the winner in April 2009. The prize will be awarded at a special event in September 2009, at OU.
About the Thatcher Hoffman Smith Creativity in Motion Prize
The Thatcher Hoffman Smith Creativity in Motion Prize, established in 2002, is funded through the generous contributions of Oklahoma City supporter Jeanne Hoffman Smith. This biennial award, dedicated to recognizing, honoring and encouraging the creative process, is a collaborative effort with OU’s College of Arts and Sciences. The prize awards an unrestricted sum of $40,000 to an individual whose work demonstrates original thinking and the promise of continuing creative work. It celebrates a visionary work in process, recognizing the potential power of its original expression to affect and enrich the world around us. The work or project must be under way but not completed at the time of application. Named to honor Jeanne Hoffman Smith’s mother and father, Grace Thatcher and Roy Hoffman, Jr., this unrestricted award is unique in its lack of parameters. |
