For Immediate Release – Washington, DC October 10, 2010
DC Arts Magazine Announces Student Arts Journalism Competition
Over the last decade, staff arts journalists have almost disappeared from print publications, and entrepreneurial journalism/blogging has created a flood of event-focused coverage. The public, and the arts, benefit from professional arts writing and non-profit Day Eight is proud to announce the DC Student Arts Journalism Challenge, a competition for undergraduates in District area colleges and universities, that will encourage and identify emerging talent in the field of arts journalism.
The DC Student Arts Journalism Challenge is a project of the arts magazine Bourgeon. Since 2005 Bourgeon has innovated a new model for local arts journalism. Washington Post visual arts critic Michael O’Sullivan states,
“As an arts writer and critic for the The Washington Post, it’s been my pleasure to observe and document the Washington D.C. art scene for the last 17 years. At a time when the future of arts journalism—indeed, the future of journalism itself—is at stake, Bourgeon’s Student Arts Journalism Challenge offers encouragement to the next generation of arts journalists, along with a reminder that the arts, and those who write about them, still matter.”
The project has ambitious goals, including raising awareness of arts journalism and the history of the field, encouraging quality arts journalism, stimulating increased university and local arts interaction, and supporting emerging arts journalists.
The Bourgeon editorial Board will select five finalists, and all finalists will have their work published in the magazine. A jury of professional critics including Washington Post visual arts critic Michael O’Sullivan and Washington Post classical music critic Anne Midgette will select the winner. The award includes a $300 dollar cash prize, intended for use to attend a workshop, conference, or other career-development opportunity.
Competition details including sponsors and funders are currently being finalized, and will be announced as they are available; entries will be accepted from November 15th, 2010 to February 20th, 2011, and the winner will be presented with the award at a ceremony on March 22nd, 2011.
For further information, contact Bourgeon Managing Editor Robert Bettmann at rob@dayeight.org