LoginAbout The Awards
WELCOME to the Baker Artist Awards.
The William G. Baker, Jr. Memorial Fund established the Baker Artist Awards to recognize Baltimore’s artists and engage the public in supporting their work. The 2010 Baker Artist Awards consists of two separate prizes, the Mary Sawyers Baker Prize and Baltimore's Choice. All Baltimore area artists working in any creative discipline are invited to register and compete. By utilizing the latest web technology, artist nominees represent themselves through video, audio, image and/or text. The online platform is designed to reach the broadest possible audience and invite their full participation. All site visitors are invited to create a personal user page and to vote on their favorite artists.
Mary Sawyers Baker, one of Baltimore's early philanthropists, studied voice as a young girl in Paris, traveled extensively, and embraced the arts throughout her life. She established the William G. Baker, Jr. Memorial Fund in 1964 to honor her husband, a well-known Baltimore civic leader. In 2007, the Fund narrowed its philanthropic mission to focus on arts and culture. In 2008, the Fund’s Board of Governors established the annual Mary Sawyers Baker Artist Prize to honor its founder and to support Baltimore artists. Up to three artists are awarded up to $25,000 each—money that winning artists may use at their discretion. The Mary Sawyers Baker Prize winners are selected by a private jury. Winners will be announced in March 2010.
Baltimore's Choice provides an opportunity for the public to participate in the Baker Artist Awards. All users receive one vote upon registration. Registered users then accrue additional votes the more they interact with the site—up to 10 votes. Registered users can cast their votes for one artist or several artists. Votes can be changed up until the deadline. The five artists with most votes at the close of voting become the 2010 Baltimore’s Choice winners and win $1,000 each. Public voting for Baltimore's Choice begins on October 1, 2009 and ends at 5:00 PM on February 15, 2010. Winners will be announced in March 2010.
The Selection Process for the Mary Sawyers Baker Prize
Jury selection process and deliberations for the Mary Sawyers Baker Prize will remain private. The jury will be suited to the multidiscipline nature of the artist nominations. All artistic disciplines will be considered. Nominations for both the Mary Sawyers Baker Prize and Baltimore's Choice close at 5:00 PM on January 15, 2010.
Who is Eligible
You must be an artist at least 21 years old and have been a legal resident of the Baltimore region since October 1, 2008. The Baltimore region is defined as: Anne Arundel County, Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Carroll County, Harford County and Howard County. The Baker Artist Awards are intended for individual artists and groups of artists working as a collective. Artists working in any discipline or multi- disciplines are eligible. Organizations and venues are not eligible. Winners of the Baker Artist Awards will be required to provide additional proof of age and residency beyond information requested through the online self-nomination process. Under the direction of the William G. Baker, Jr. Memorial Fund, The Greater Baltimore Cultural Alliance (GBCA) administers the Baker Artist Awards. All inquiries should be directed to GBCA by email to GBCA@baltimoreculture.org.
About Us
The William G. Baker Jr. Memorial Fund commits its resources to enhance the region's economy and quality of life by making investments in arts and culture. The Fund makes these investments in cultural resources so that all residents may participate and benefit. Its grants support artistic and cultural organizations and their partners through initiatives that enhance an individual's sense of self and pleasure and make Baltimore a more attractive place to live, work and play.
The Fund Trustees conceived Baker Artists Awards to honor individual artists who live and work in Baltimore City and the five surrounding counties. The awards, the Mary Sawyers Baker Prize and Baltimore's Choice, will be made annually in March of each year. By providing unconditional financial support for emerging and well established artists, the Baker Awards will signify to the regional, national and international community that Baltimore is a place that values its artists and rewards their work.