Excellence in the Arts Award
The Cranbury Arts Council is pleased to offer an award for excellence in the arts. This award is open to graduating high school seniors who reside in Cranbury, NJ, and attend public or private area schools. This is a merit-based award and is open to all students dedicated to the arts. Students in the areas of visual arts, film, photography, music (including instrumental and vocal), theatre arts, dance, and poetry are all eligible to apply for this award.
Applications and supporting materials will be reviewed by the CAC Arts Award Committee. The committee reserves the right to share the award between two students who demonstrate equal merit, or reserve the award for the next year if no applicant meets the full expectations of the award. The award will be presented in the amount of $500 to one student, or $250 to two students who have demonstrated equal merit. The award winner or winners will be announced in June.
To be considered for the award, you must submit the following google form using the link below
In addition, you must email the following 3 supporting materials to cranburyartscouncil@gmail.com
(Video submissions must be sent as a link through YouTube, Vimeo, or any other video-hosting website.)
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A resume of your accomplishments including years you have been dedicated to your art, competitions, awards, performances, exhibits, community involvement in the arts, and any outstanding achievements that will show the committee the full scope of your dedication.
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One recommendation from a teacher or mentor that can speak to your accomplishments, no more than one page in length.
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Please submit any supporting materials you feel will give the committee a full appreciation of your talents. Examples include:
Video of your performance in music, dance, or theater - up to 10 minutes
Example(s) of film(s) created by applicant
5-10 examples from your art portfolio (photos/scans of your work)
DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION - APRIL 15, 2025
The Cranbury Arts Council's 2023 Excellence in the Arts Award was presented to Princeton High School senior
JP Kinney
Congratulations to our 2023 Excellence in the Arts Award recipient, JP Kinney! JP will receive a $1,000 scholarship to pursue a degree in Art and Design from Lehigh University this fall. JP is an exceptional artist who focuses on painting and drawing. His work includes the use of many different mediums including oil and acrylic paints, charcoal, pencil, and pen drawings. JP often explores painting on fabric using bleach, and his work has become very popular with students.
He is often commissioned to create new pieces for them to wear!
JP was diagnosed with a rare bone disease when he was just 9 years old. By middle school, he was living in excruciating pain and could no longer walk on his own. During this difficult time in his life, he found that expressing himself creatively through art was incredibly freeing. Painting and drawing took his mind to a place outside of his pain, which allowed him to feel hopeful. As JP received IV infusions of medication, and began to walk on his own again, he also began to reveal his emotions through his art. He often paints people where he tries to capture not only their vulnerabilities and struggles,
but their resilience and determination as well.
JP has participated in the Cranbury Arts Council's summer camps since he was very young. He then went on to volunteer and work for the Cranbury Arts Council's Summer Musical Theater camp as an art assistant and counselor throughout his high school years. JP has enjoyed working with the campers each summer while sharing his love of art with them. JP's work on the set, costumes, and props of the summer productions has been outstanding and impactful.
We can't wait to see what JP creates in the future!
Congratulations, JP!
PAST AWARD WINNERS
2012: Alex Anderson (Instrumental Music, Syracuse University)
2013: Melissa Amico (Dance, Muhlenberg College) and
Elizabeth Maxey (Instrumental Music, Princeton University)
2014: Evan Pavley (Visual Arts, School of the Visual Arts)
2016: Caroline Purdy (Musical Theater, Oklahoma City University)
2017: Edmund Cai (Visual Arts, University of Pennsylvania)
2018: Jake Borden (Instrumental Music, The Julliard School) and
Mary Rose Brendel (Musical Theater, Penn State)
2019: Isabel Kinney (Theater/Performance Arts, Vanderbilt University)
2020: Kate Liggio (Dance/Georgetown University) and
Conrad Hall (Theater/Muhlenburg College)
2021: Elaina Phillips (Visual Arts/Rutgers University)
2022: Teddy Brendel (Musical Theater/Syracuse University
2023: JP Kinney (Visual Art)
2024: Samara Raju (Vocal)