ARTS BRIEFS
Governor’s Awards seeks nominations
The New Mexico Arts Commission and New Mexico Arts, a division of the Department of Cultural Affairs, are accepting nominations for the 2015 Governor’s Awards for Excellence in the Arts. The annual Governor’s Arts Awards are New Mexico’s highest and most prestigious artistic honors and are intended to celebrate lifetime achievement. Nominations can be submitted by individual New Mexico residents or representatives of businesses or organizations in New Mexico. Self-nominations are discouraged.
Nominations for the awards may include individual living New Mexican artists working in any discipline who have demonstrated outstanding lifetime achievement; individuals who have consistently made significant or distinguished contributions to the arts in New Mexico; and businesses, nonprofits or foundations with sustained involvement in and support for the arts.
Nominations must be received by March 27. They may be mailed or handdelivered to New Mexico Arts, Suite 270, 407 Galisteo St., Santa Fe, NM 87501.
Nomination forms are available online at nmarts. org or contact New Mexico Arts at 505-827-6490, 800-8794278 (statewide), or email caitlin.olsen@state.nm.us. The events for the 2015 Annual Governor’s Awards for Excellence in the Arts are scheduled for Sept. 18 in Santa Fe.
Las Golondrinas seeks volunteers
El Rancho de las Golondrinas living history museum near Santa Fe seeks volunteers for the 2015 season and beyond. Tasks are varied, no minimum time commitment is required and training is provided.
Opportunities include helping with the popular archery program, greeting visitors when they first arrive, doing crafts with kids, working in the museum shop, conducting tours and more.
“We are looking for volunteers of all ages to help us make Las Golondrinas even better for our visitors. And though most of our volunteers like to dress up in historical clothing and talk to visitors about the history and culture of New Mexico, we have plenty of opportunities for people who are more comfortable in jeans and T-shirts,” said Joe Maes, curator of historical interpretation.
Those interested in finding out more can contact Maes at 505-471-2261, ext. 205 or joe.maes@golondrinas.org. General information about Las Golondrinas can be found at golondrinas.org.
Opera Southwest finalist for award
Albuquerque’s regional opera company, Opera Southwest, has been named a finalist in the International Opera awards 2015. From more than 1,000 candidates nominated by critics, musicians and opera fans around the world, Opera Southwest is the only American company and one of only six worldwide to be nominated in the category Best Rediscovered Work for its New World premiere in October of Franco Faccio’s “Amleto,” or Hamlet.
Other nominees in the category include the Czech Philharmonic and the Rossini Opera Festival, Pesaro.
OSW’s Artistic Director Anthony Barrese spent 11 years reconstructing the score from the original composer’s autograph manuscript.
An international jury will select winners by secret ballot and they will be announced at the Savoy Hotel in London this April.
Almost simultaneously OSW’s President of the Board Frank “Woody” Kuehn was chosen as a recipient of Opera America’s National Opera Trustee Recognition Award. From hundreds of opera companies in the country, one trustee from each of four budget levels is selected annually. This year’s list of four includes OSW’s president Kuehn, given to “outstanding trustees of U.S. opera companies for exemplary leadership, generosity and audiencebuilding efforts on behalf of their respective opera companies.”