Nominations sought for Fox Valley Arts Hall of Fame

The Fox Valley Arts Hall of Fame welcomes nominations of outstanding artists for its 2018 Class of Inductees. Nominations may be submitted during the next two months, starting Sept. 1 and ending Nov. 1.

Anyone may submit a name for consideration, using the nomination form and guidelines approved by the group's board of directors.

Artists previously recommended may be nominated again, but a new form is necessary.

There is no fee required. The nomination form and requirements can be found on the Fox Valley Arts Hall of Fame's website, www.foxvalleyarts.org.

Every two years, the Fox Valley Arts Hall of Fame gives public recognition to artists associated with the Fox Valley by birth, education, residence or service, who have achieved international or nation acclaim.

The honor is for living artists or can be awarded posthumously.

Candidates should have completed 20 years in their professional field and received recognition for excellence.

To date, 56 individuals representing the literary arts, media arts, performing arts and visual arts have been inducted.

A fifth category is for an arts educator, director, curator or benefactor. These individuals through their work would have either created or promoted a strong cultural legacy for future generations.

Plaques with the artists' images and a brief profile are displayed in the entry area of the Hemmens Cultural Center in Elgin.

Detailed biographies of inductees also may be read on the Fox Valley Arts Hall of Fame's website at www.foxvalleyarts.org/inductees.html.

The Fox Valley Arts Hall of Fame was first organized in 2001.

The Arts Hall of Fame honors and showcases the work and performances of artists who have achieved extraordinary distinction.

Aside from honoring artists in the Fox Valley area, a second objective is to ensure a strong cultural legacy for future generations.

The inductees selected during the current round will be recognized at a banquet and gala awards ceremony held in their honor Friday, April 20, 2018, at Villa Olivia in Bartlett.

A selection committee composed of board members and professional experts from the community will meet this December to choose the finalists.

Those names will then submitted to the board for approval.

The names of the Class of 2018 inductees will then be announced at a news conference in early 2018.