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The 2019 winners include artists working in literature, dance, theater and visual art.

鈥淚t鈥檚 more than a monetary prize to artists who are doing great work. It鈥檚 really about a family and it鈥檚 about Cleveland鈥檚 legacy,鈥� said Alenka Banco, Cleveland Arts Prize鈥檚 executive director.

The winners receive their awards, which come with a $10,000 prize, at a ceremony in September.

Lifetime Achievement Award

Janice Lessman-Moss, visual arts

Janice Lessman-Moss, head of Kent State's textile department, is a visual artist applying digital technology in woven tapestry paintings.

"What she's done with her work and her technique is that she's introduced what was once a dying discipline to an entirely different generation."

Mid-career Awards

Victoria Bussert, theater

Victoria Bussert leads Baldwin Wallace University鈥檚 well-respected Music Theatre program and has been directing theatrical productions for more than 30 years.

鈥淪he鈥檚 a powerhouse,鈥� Banko said. 鈥淭he kids and the students that are coming out of her program are really on a national and an international stage.鈥�

Mary Biddinger, literature

Mary Biddinger is a poet, editor and professor at the University of Akron.

鈥淵ou have to add activist to her title as well,鈥� Banko said. 鈥淪he actually has had great impact in Akron in saving the [University of Akron] Press.鈥�

She has authored six poetry collections and her first collection of prose poems, 鈥淧artial Genius,鈥� is due out this month.

Emerging Artist Awards

Dominic Moore-Dunson, dance

Dominic Moore-Dunson is as a dancer, choreographer and up-and-coming arts leader. The Akron native is in his ninth season with Inlet Dance Theatre and performed at the prestigious Jacob鈥檚 Pillow Dance Festival in 2017.

鈥淗e鈥檚 been one of those sort of quiet rising stars,鈥� Banko said. 鈥淗e鈥檚 really started to create his own body of work that deals with issues that has made people pay attention.鈥�

Kisha Nicole Foster, literature

Kisha Nicole Foster is a poet and has been performing for 16 years, including in national slam competitions. She is also an educator, mentor and advocate for the city鈥檚 literary scene- past and present.

鈥淭his isn鈥檛 an overnight success, this girl has been working the pavement for a really long time,鈥� Banko said.

Special Prizes

Robert. P. Bergman Prize

Terri Pontremoli, director of the Tri-C JazzFest

Terri Pontremoli is an advocate for jazz and the director of the annual Tri-C JazzFest. She鈥檚 honored for arts stewardship with this award.

鈥淗er goal in JazzFest was really to make sure jazz was for everyone,鈥� Banko said. 鈥淲hat she鈥檚 doing is important not only in that field but to the city.鈥�

Martha Joseph Prize

The Print Club of Cleveland

The Print Club of Cleveland celebrates its centennial this year. It has been a source for collectors, educated the community in printmaking and formed a legacy collection for the Cleveland Museum of Art.

"Part of its mission was to make sure the work was purchased, saved and recognized in our own community," Banko said. 

Barbara S. Robinson Prize

Tony F. Sias, president and CEO of Karamu House

Tony F. Sias has been leading Karamu House through a financial turnaround and a restoration project. Throughout his career he has worked with the Cleveland Metropolitan School District and performed and directed in numerous productions. This award recognizes his leadership in the arts community.

鈥淗e puts love in everything he kind of grabs a hold of,鈥� Banko said, adding that his experience working in the local theater community helps him now as an arts administrator. 鈥淭ony is passionate and in love with what he is doing.鈥�

Verge Fellowship Awards

Cleveland Arts Prize also awards 10 artists 鈥渙n the verge鈥� working across various disciplines in Northeast Ohio. The fellowship began last year with five artists and expanded this year to 10. The artists each receive $2,500 stipends, which are funded by the Cleveland Foundation and Cuyahoga Arts and Culture.

鈥淭hey are not quite artists whom we would consider for an emerging (award), because they鈥檙e still really in states of becoming,鈥� said Daniel Gray-Kontar, co-chair of the Verge Fellowship Awards.

Verge Fellowship winners

Brittany Benton, music

Ephraim Butler, literature

Archie Green ll, music

Lexy Lattimore, theater and dance

Samuel McIntosh, theater and dance

Ryan Ramer, music

Na-Te` Sturdivant, visual arts

Antwoine Washington, visual arts

Mariama Whyte, music

McKinley Wiley, visual arts

Cleveland Arts Prize Executive Director Alenka Banco and Verge Fellowship Awards Co-Chair Daniel Gray Kontar discuss the winners in depth Thursday at 9 a.m. during the Sound of Ideas on 90.3 WCPN. Note: Due to a programming change, this discussion was rescheduled from Monday to Thursday.