The Bronx Council on the Arts (BCA) Recognizes Artistic Excellence in the Bronx through its 2023 BRIO Awards

(June 9, 2023 – Bronx, NY) The Bronx Council on the Arts (BCA) is excited to celebrate the work of 42 local artists with the announcement of its 2023 Bronx Recognizes Its Own (BRIO) Awards. For over 30 years, BRIO has served to recognize the wealth of Bronx artistic talent, bestowing coveted notoriety among local artists working in literary, media, performing, and visual arts. Artists contribute to the vitality and wellbeing of our communities, and BRIO has helped ensure that artists have the resources necessary to continue to do so, in addition to well-regarded public recognition. Moreover, BRIO awards have leveraged the careers of hundreds of Bronx artists over the years. Artists receiving BRIO awards must commit to completing a one-time public service activity known as Artists for Community Enrichment (ACE). ACE provides artists with additional visibility while connecting the community to the local arts ecosystem.

The Bronx is the only borough in New York City to feature an ongoing award for individual artists based solely on artistic excellence. Made possible through funding from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs (DCLA), BCA has invested more than $2 million for over 30 years, helping support, leverage and launch the careers of more than 500 Bronx artists. BRIO stands as a testament to BCA’s dedication to support creative endeavors and to be a resource for a wide array of local talent. This year, BRIO will award $210,000 among 42 artists, who will each receive an award of $5,000.

BRIO decisions are reached by panels of arts professionals from outside the Bronx working in related disciplines, with submissions considered anonymously and based solely on artistic merit. The anonymity of the selection process is part of what makes BRIO special. A BRIO Award Ceremony will be held on Tuesday, June 13th at the Bronx Academy of Arts and Dance (BAAD!) from 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM to celebrate selected artists’ outstanding achievements. In addition to BRIO winners, representatives from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) and the press, as well as other funders and elected officials have been invited to attend.

Below are the 2023 BRIO Award Recipients:

Literary Arts: Nashon Dion (Literary Prose); Janel Cloyd (Poetry); Jodi-Ann Francis (Poetry); Amy Gottlieb (Literary Prose); Vincent Marano (Screen/Playwriting); Carmen Mojica (Poetry); Benedict Nguyen (Literary Prose); Michele Stanback (Screen/Playwriting); Sarah Wang (Literary Prose)

Media Arts: Shaunese Crawford (Documentary Film/Video); Hyonok Kim (Experimental Film/Video); Tramaine Wortham (Narrative Film/Video)

Performing Arts: Alano Baez (Music); Hannah Coleman (Music); Athena Colon (Acting); Michael Crisol (Music); Gabriel Globus-Hoenich (Music); Vilma Lisette Sanchez Henriquez (Music); Christopher Otto (Music); Donovan Reed (Dance); SkittleZ Ortiz (Acting); Dior StHillaire (Poetry); Imani Wallace (Poetry); Maleek Washington (Dance)

Visual Arts: Roy Baizan (Photography); Samantha Box (Photography); Walter Cruz (2D); Kim Dacres (3D); Dennis Darkeem (3D); Lisa DuBois (Photography); Alex "FDEZ" Fernández (2D); Rosemarie Fiore (Painting); Emily Henretta (2D); Sandie Luna (3D); Summer McClinton (Painting); Tijay Mohammed (Painting); David Perez (Photography); Amy Pryor (3D); Ruben Ramirez (2D); Daisy Ruiz (2D); Sol Sax (2D); Misra Walker (3D)

About The Bronx Council On The Arts (Bca)

Founded by visionary community leaders in 1962, The Bronx Council on the Arts (BCA) is a pioneer in advancing cultural equity in The Bronx. From our early beginnings as a presenter of affordable arts programming in select Bronx neighborhoods, we have grown into a cultural hub that serves the entire creative ecosystem of the borough. Our programs serve artists, the public, and the field at large by building connections, providing resources, and advocating for equitable practices. Then as now, we focus on supporting the work of underrepresented groups – especially artists of color, women, and members of the LGBTQIA+ community. Through this lens we offer affordable programs for seniors and youth and provide direct services to over 1,500 artists and 250 community-based arts groups each year. For more information, please visit www.bronxarts.org.

The Bronx Council on the Arts is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council; New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature; Arts Midwest and the National Endowment for the Arts; the Coalition of Theaters of Color; the Cultural Immigrant Initiative; City Council Members Eric Dinowitz and Marjorie Velázquez; Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson; NYS Assemblymember Michael Benedetto and the NYS Division of Criminal Justice; and the Hispanic Federation, the City of New York, and the Department of Youth and Community Development. Also supported in part by the Howard Gilman Foundation, the Booth Ferris Foundation, the Altman Foundation, the Mertz Gilmore Foundation, Amazon, the Lily Auchincloss Foundation, the New Yankee Stadium Community Benefits Fund, the Tiger Baron Foundation, and Con Edison. Special thanks to Hostos Community College and the Hostos Center for the Arts & Culture for their support.

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