About the Awards
WELCOME to the Baker Artist Awards.
The William G. Baker, Jr. Memorial Fund established the Baker Artist Awards in 2008-2009 to recognize Baltimore’s artists and engage regional, national and international audiences in supporting these artists’ work. The 2013 Baker Artist Awards encourage all Baltimore area artists working in any creative discipline to register, exhibit their work, comment on others’ work, select favorite works, promote the site to friends, enjoy the broad public attention given to the site and compete for the Mary Sawyers Baker Prizes and b-grant awards. The latest web technology is available to artists and the viewing public to better appreciate video, audio, image and text nominations. All site visitors are invited to login as participants, comment on artists’ work and create a “favorites” exhibition.
Mary Sawyers Baker, one of Baltimore's early philanthropists, studied voice as a young girl in Paris 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 exclusively on arts and culture; and in 2008, the Fund’s Board of Governors established the Mary Sawyers Baker Awards, up to three annual prizes of $25,000, to honor its founder. The first prizes were awarded in 2009.
"Song For My Father", in honor of Semmes G. Walsh
b-grant Prizes
The William G. Baker, Jr. Memorial Fund created its “b-grant” program in 2010 to promote the quality, diversity, and depth of the region’s arts scene. These $1,000 grants recognize emerging artists, and established artists exploring new directions. Up to nine awards will be given annually to artists selected by discipline specific experts from nominations on the Baker Artist Awards website. Three awards will be given in November; three awards in December; and three awards in January. b-grant winners remain eligible to win the Mary Sawyers Baker prizes.
Each year, two b-grant winners will be awarded an additional prize. An award of $500 will be given annually to a b-grant winner in honor of Semmes G. Walsh whose over forty years of service to the Baker Fund was characterized by integrity, common sense and a commitment to artistic excellence. His daughter, composer and singer Marion Walsh, has recently recorded a tribute to her father, Song for My Father. Her website is www.marionwalsh.com.
An award of $500 will be given annually to a b-grant winner in honor of Nancy Haragan for her years of creative service to Baltimore’s arts sector.
The Selection Process for the Mary Sawyers Baker Prize
Nominations for the Mary Sawyers Baker Prizes close at 11:59 PM on January 15, 2013. The Mary Sawyers Baker selection process will be conducted by a private jury of national and international multidisciplinary experts who will consider all website nominations in selecting the Mary Sawyers Baker winners. Their process will remain private.
Eligibility
To nominate yourself, you must be at least 21 years old and have been a legal resident of the Baltimore region since October 1, 2010. 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 multiple disciplines are eligible to win Mary Sawyers Baker and b-grant prizes and winners of the b-grant prizes remain eligible to win the Mary Sawyers Baker prizes. Organizations and venues are not eligible.
Winners of the Mary Sawyers Baker and b-grant prizes will be required to provide additional proof of age and residency beyond information requested through the online self-nomination process.
The Greater Baltimore Cultural Alliance (GBCA) administers the Baker Artist Awards under the direction of the William G. Baker, Jr. Memorial Fund and all inquiries regarding eligibility should be directed to thelab@BakerArtistAwards.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. Its grants support artistic and cultural organizations and their partners through initiatives that make Baltimore a more lively, dynamic and connected place to live.
The Fund’s Trustees initiated the Baker Artists Awards to promote and honor artist collectives and individual artists who live and work in Baltimore and its five surrounding counties. The Baker Artist Awards are intended to promote the region’s creative talent and are offered in a web format to attract the attention of broad regional, national and international audiences. Up to three Mary Sawyers Baker prizes will be awarded annually.