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2017 Robert E. Gard Award Submissions

In 2017, the following 10 projects were announced by Americans for the Arts as the finalists for the 2017 Robert E. Gard Award, which honors projects from the last year that have integrated the arts into the community in meaningful, measurable ways. Members were invited to help select the winner, and the 2017 Gard Award was ultimately given to the RedCan Graffiti Jam.

Please click boxes to view a full-sized image as well as the project description and partners. And be sure to check out this year's projects!

Seeing Spartanburg In a New Light

City of Spartanburg, Chief of Police Alonzo Thompson helping to assemble Downtown Mobile Suspension photo taken by Luke Connell, The Palladian Group.

The Somewhere Project: A Citywide Exploration of West Side Story

The Somewhere Project: A Citywide Exploration of West Side Story

AS IS by Nick Cave

Residents of five Social Service Organizations are 'dressed for transformation' by artists, under the direction of Nick Cave, to show the inner beauty and regal spirit of these often disenfranchised neighbors.

RedCan Graffiti Jam

Lakota Youth Dancers at Red Can: Richard Steinberger

Prisons Today: Questions in the Age of Mass Incarceration

Prisons Today invites visitors to contemplate their relationship to the criminal justice system, asking them upon entrance to the exhibit: Have you ever broken the law? Visitors can leave a confession at 'The Criminal Us' artist installation (far left) and contemplate penal philosophy at the 'What Are Prisons For?' iPad interactive (middle left). Questions throughout the exhibit—such as 'Why are there so many Americans in prison?'—prompt contemplation on U.S. prisons, institutions often out of sight and out of mind.

O+ Festival

Mural Photo: Jess X Snow Mural photo by Daniel Weintraub. Public Mural completed at 0+ Festival celebrating. Collage Photo: O+ 2016 Collage Clockwise from top left; Stefan Lisowski, Daniel Weintraub, Silvia Forni, Micah Blumenthal.

San Francisco Chinatown Alleyways Project

Young children with matching pink costumes, blue floral aprons, and red fans, dance on an outdoor stage.

Winston-Salem Community Innovation Lab

Participants broke up into small groups to discuss how they, as artists and community members, will be working together to address local and structural inequities in income, employment and wealth. Photo credit – Christine Rucker

The Unified Players

In this photo one can see the college students who are the teachers/directors/choreographers in training in the foreground, while the children surround the exceptional adults. There are nothing but smiles all the way around after a successful performance of James and the Giant Peach. (The professor and city coordinator are not pictured).

Out of the Box

Completed Traffic Control Box