Americans for the Arts is pleased to announce a generous gift of $250,000 from The Jorge M. Pérez Family Foundation establishing a first-of-its-kind national program, the Jorge and Darlene Pérez Prize in Public Art & Civic Design. The program, which includes an award benefitting an artist, public art administrator, or representative from the civic design field on a rotating basis annually, seeks to celebrate and highlight the work of individuals who support, develop, and manage the incorporation of art into the design of places and spaces across the United States.  

Designed to empower all stakeholders in the public art process and to create a powerful platform to develop greater national visibility and appreciation of the unique role that the arts play in shaping our experience of the built environment, the Pérez Prize in Public Art & Civic Design program – which bears the names of internationally recognized philanthropists, Jorge M. Pérez and his wife, Darlene Boytell-Pérez – will support and champion the work and contributions of artists, public art administrators, and representatives from the civic design field.

Americans for the Arts will award all recipients of the Pérez Prize in Public Art & Civic Design, including the 2020 winner, with a grant package worth upwards of $50,000. The award will include a cash stipend, as well as additional financial support covering continued learning opportunities as well as dialogue and discussion about their work with national leaders in the arts and other allied fields. The winner will be announced in December during the 2020 edition of Miami Art Week.

“I am deeply grateful to Jorge and Darlene Pérez for establishing this program with Americans for the Arts to celebrate and highlight the uniquely important work of artists in public art and civic design,” said Robert L. Lynch, president and CEO of Americans for the Arts. “Jorge and Darlene have a long history of dedication, leadership, and support of the arts, and their creativity and vision have contributed immensely to expanding the arts in Miami-Dade County, positively impacting the lives of residents and visitors alike. We at Americans for the Arts look forward to working with them through this program to deepen awareness, appreciation, and understanding of how art transforms the design of places and spaces across the United States in ways that add deep and meaningful dimension to our human experience of the built environment.”

“Americans for the Arts’ mission to build recognition and cultivate support for the individuals and organizations that advance public art is completely aligned with The Pérez Family Foundation’s goals,” said Jorge Pérez, CEO, Founder and Chairman of development firm The Related Group and long-time patron of the arts. “Darlene and I have always believed public art plays a critical role in exposing individuals across the entire economic spectrum to new ideas, philosophies and cultures. This type of cultural access is more important today than ever before and we couldn’t be prouder to partner with Americans for the Arts to make this vision a reality.”  

Applicants can take a pre-assessment to determine eligibility and apply by visiting this page. Because art in civic design encompasses such a vast range of forms and genres, Americans for the Arts is inviting submissions in select categories: public art, visual arts, community-based artists, artists-in-residencies combined with civic design fields such as planning, transportation, and land use development, artist as part of design teams, hybrids of the aforementioned, and multidisciplinary work in which artistic practice elements are predominant.

Applications must be submitted by August 14, 2020. A selection committee composed of representatives from Americans for the Arts, The Jorge M. Pérez Family Foundation, the Public Art Network Advisory Council, and outside representation will then determine the winner.

Applicants will receive an update to their submissions by October. A public announcement of the awardee will be made in December 2020.

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Americans for the Arts is the leading nonprofit organization for advancing the arts and arts education in America. With offices in Washington, D.C. and New York City, it has a record of 60 years of service. Americans for the Arts is dedicated to representing and serving local communities and creating opportunities for every American to participate in and appreciate all forms of the arts. Additional information is available at www.AmericansForTheArts.org.

The Jorge M. Pérez Family Foundation at The Miami Foundation fulfills the philanthropic vision of Jorge M. Pérez, chairman and CEO of The Related Group, and his family to develop South Florida as an exemplary world-class urban center. The family foundation promotes sustainable, inclusive and just communities by supporting programs and organizations focused on arts and culture, health and well-being, education, environment and economic development – with a particular preference for programs and organizations that could serve as models for other urban centers. For more information, please visit www.jmperezfamilyfoundation.org.