Asia Pacific Cultural Center among AMOCAT Arts Award recipients

September 5, 2014 2:08 pm
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The Tacoma Arts Commission has announced this year’s recipients of the annual AMOCAT Arts Award.

The three award categories are Community Outreach by an Individual (Community outreach, engagement, and involvement in the arts in Tacoma by an individual); Community Outreach by an Organization (Community outreach, engagement, and involvement in the arts in Tacoma by an organization); and Arts Patron (A community partner who significantly supports or contributes to the arts in Tacoma).

ArtsFund received the Arts Patron Award for its work to strengthen the community by supporting the arts through leadership, advocacy, and grant-making. ArtsFund has been directing funds to Pierce County arts organizations since its inception in 1969, and has invested over $6.5 million in grants into the arts sector in Pierce County. The organization aims to develop the next generation of community and civic leaders, and offers a nonprofit board leadership training course, as well as ongoing meetings for the cultural sector. Through ArtsFund’s policy and advocacy efforts, Building for the Arts, a statewide capital grant program, approximately $5.3 million has been distributed to Pierce County arts organizations.

The Asia Pacific Cultural Center received the Community Outreach by an Organization Award for its work to develop a greater understanding and appreciation of the diversity of Tacoma and vibrancy of Asia Pacific cultures. The organization represents 47 countries and cultures of Asia Pacific, offering programs and services that honor the distinct artistry, business protocols, history, and social practices of each. Established in 1996, the Asia Pacific Cultural Center’s mission is to bridge communities and generations through arts, culture, education, and business. The organization serves over 40,000 people annually through multiple community-based programs, including the annual Asia Pacific New Year Celebration.

Jessica Spring received the Community Outreach by an Individual Award for her efforts to bring the art of letterpress to Tacoma. Spring started setting cold type on a phototypesetting machine as an undergraduate English major, beginning a lifelong interest in typography. She learned to set metal type in 1989 and has been a letterpress printer since. Her work at Springtide Press is included in collections around the country and abroad. She also helped to found and sustain Wayzgoose, Tacoma’s own letterpress and books arts festival, for the past 10 years.

Recipients will be honored during the annual Tacoma Arts Month Opening Party, which will be held on Thurs., Oct. 2, between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m., at the Tacoma Post Office Building, located at 1102 A St., in downtown Tacoma. Tacoma Mayor Marilyn Strickland will present the awards starting at 7:45 p.m. The event will also include live entertainment, as well as appetizers, dessert, and a no-host bar. Sponsors of this free, public event include the Tacoma Arts Commission, Spaceworks Tacoma, Click! Cable TV, and the Greater Tacoma Community Foundation, among others.

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Past AMOCAT Arts Award recipients include:

2013

  • Arts Patron – Erivan and Helga Haub and family
  • Community Outreach by an Organization – Puget Sound Book Artists
  • Community Outreach by an Individual – David Domkoski

2012

2011

2010

  • Community Outreach by an Artist award – Oliver Doriss
  • Community Outreach by an Organization award – Fab-5
  • Arts Patron award – Urban Grace Church

2009

2008

2007

  • Community Outreach by an Artist award – Lance Kagey and Tom Llewellyn of Beautiful Angle
  • Community Outreach by an Organization award – Victory Music
  • Arts Patron award – The Weekly Volcano

2006

2005

To read the Tacoma Daily Index’s complete and comprehensive coverage of the AMOCAT Arts Awards and Art At Work Month, click on the following links:

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