[cid:image005.jpg@01CA3D32.C9A65220]News Release[cid:image006.jpg@01CA3D32.C9A65220] >From the City of Tacoma, Washington www.cityoftacoma.org FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Sept. 24, 2009 MEDIA CONTACTS Karrie Spitzer, Community Relations, karrie.spitzer@cityoftacoma.org<mailto:karrie.spitzer@cityoftacoma.org>, (253) 591-5790 Naomi Strom-Avila, Community and Economic Development, nstrom-avila@cityoftacoma.org<mailto:nstrom-avila@cityoftacoma.org>, (253) 591-5191 Local arts advocates honored with AMOCAT Arts Awards City Arts Magazine, Hilltop Artists in Residence, and William Kupinse have been selected to receive the Tacoma Arts Commission's 2009 AMOCAT Awards. The awards recognize businesses, organizations and artists for their vision, dedication and action in creating a lively arts community in Tacoma. The three categories support community outreach in the arts by a patron, an organization and an individual. * The "Arts Patron" award goes to City Arts Magazine for their work in creating and growing a free publication that highlights the local arts and culture scene in Tacoma and the South Sound region. City Arts Tacoma spotlights the organizations and individuals who contribute to Tacoma's creative community and provides a forum for the arts community to share ideas, garner recognition and inspire each other. * The "Community Outreach by an Organization" award goes to Hilltop Artists in Residence (HART) for their service to the youth of Tacoma through nine tuition-free glass arts training programs at Jason Lee Middle School, Wilson High School and Ford Middle School. The program serves a diverse group of youth and is especially effective with young people who are searching for ways to connect and belong. There is an additional focus on assisting those who find themselves struggling academically, socially or behaviorally. HART also provides specific outreach in communities that are dealing with high risk factors related to poverty, neglect, homelessness, substance abuse and violence. * The "Community Outreach by an Artist" award goes to William Kupinse for his work in helping raise the visibility of the literary arts in Tacoma. Kupinse served as the 2008 Urban Grace Poet Laureate of Tacoma in which time he offered poetry workshops for the community, organized readings at local venues and read at events ranging from the American Civil Liberties Union's Bill of Rights celebration to the Pierce County AIDS Walk to the Tacoma Food Co-op First Public Outing. Kupinse also co-edited and published In Tahoma's Shadow, an anthology of Tacoma-area poets, and Fallow, a collection of his own poetry. Awardees will be honored at the annual Art at Work Opening Party on Oct. 29, from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Tacoma Art Museum. In addition to honoring the awardees, the evening's programming will feature live music by the Tacoma Youth Symphony, poetry readings by William Kupinse and Tammy Robacker, hors d'oeuvres and cake, and an opportunity to view the museum's galleries. This free public event is sponsored by Click! Cable TV, Washington State Arts Commission, Weekly Volcano, City Arts magazine, and ShowCase media. Visit www.ArtAtWorkTacoma.com<http://www.artatworktacoma.com/> for more information about Art at Work: Tacoma Arts Month. ###