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The LEAP Award
he LEAP Award was established in the fall of 2007 to recognize emerging talent in the contemporary craft field. Founded in 1971 by Elizabeth R. Raphael as The Store for Art and Crafts and People Made Things, SCC featured work by young and emerging artists such as Wendell Castle, Lenore Tawney, Josh Simpson, Howard Kottler and Robert Lee Morris, among many others that needed wider opportunities to exhibit and sell their work. Building on this early history, it is our hope that the newly created LEAP Award will facilitate young artists move into a career in contemporary craft.
The LEAP Award recognizes excellence in the field of contemporary craft, and is presented annually. The competition is open to exceptionally talented students and under-represented craft artists. The jurying process will take place in two sessions. There will be a review of digital images on Monday, November 10, 2008, which will be a full-day jurying session when SCC’s Exhibitions Director, Exhibitions Manager, and independent curator Gail M. Brown will identify 10-20 finalists. These finalists will be invited to create and submit work for display throughout the year in the Store. The final round of judging will take place on Monday, May 4, 2009 by Gail M. Brown. The selected artist will receive a $3,000 cash award towards the development of a product line/body of work whose prototype will become a part of SCC’s permanent collection. In addition, SCC will promote this body of work nationally, and the work will be exclusively marketed through the Store for a period of one year. This work will also be featured in an exhibition later in the year.
If you have any additional questions, email
Ben Johnson (2009 LEAP Finalist)
Black Host (detail), 2007
blown glass, sand carved, acid etched
9” x 18” x 9”
2100 Smallman St. Pittsburgh, PA 15222 | 412.261.7003 | www.contemporarycraft.org
Nicola Ginzel (2009 LEAP Finalist)
AnsgrsCharmn (Charmin)(detail), 2008
toilet paper, 23K gold leaf, thread, ink
3 5/8” x 4 7/8”
