Award for Arts Writing
The Committee is in the process of finalizing this year’s judges. Books and evaluations from readers are due back by January 27 th , 2012. A copy of the evaluation sheet was included with the each book; and our administrator, Adrienne, also sent a copy of the evaluation form via email for members who would like to submit it electronically.
To show our appreciation for our readers, the Committee has decided to share the trove of books that have been submitted over the past several cycles. When readers return their books and the completed evaluation sheets, they will be able to take home one book from previous years’ entries for each book they read this year.
The Committee is still seeking a handful of readers for a few books.
The National Award for Arts Writing, the Marfield Prize, is given annually by the Arts Club of Washington to recognize excellence in writing about the arts for a broad audience. A monetary prize ($10,000 for the current year) is given to the author of a book published in the previous year about visual, performing, media, or literary arts. Intended to help increase access to the arts, the Award celebrates prose that is lucid, luminous, clear, and inspiring, and creates a strong connection with arts and artists.
Submitting Books for Consideration
Publishers, agents, or authors may submit books for consideration. There is no fee to enter. Three copies of a book, plus the required entry form, should be submitted between July 1 and our deadline of November 12, 2011. Galleys are acceptable for books scheduled to be published in the final two months of the year. Please do not include promotional materials. All submitted material becomes the property of the Arts Club and will not be returned. Entry forms: 2011 Submission Form Marfield Prize Arts Club of Washington form
It is awarded to one book published in America during the previous year, and judged by distinguished writers of fiction and poetry. It is one of the country’s largest literary prizes given to a single author and is the only one of its kind in the country.
Inaugurated in 2006, the $10,000 prize is paid through an endowment established by long-time Arts Club member Jeannie S. Marfield in honor of Florence Berryman and Helen Wharton.