Cleveland Arts Prize Announces 2023 Winners

Now in its 63rd year, the long-running Cleveland Arts Prize has announced its latest class of winners, and it features a range of artists, writers, musicians and more — all from Northeast Ohio.

"We are pleased to recognize and celebrate the remarkable achievements of these artists, whose creativity and dedication have enriched our lives and transformed the cultural landscape," says Aseelah Shareef, Board Chair of the Cleveland Arts Prize, in a news release. "Their work reminds us of the power of art to inspire, provoke thought and foster connection. We congratulate the winners for their exceptional contributions and invite the community to join us in celebrating their success and impact in October.”

Janet Macoska earns the lifetime achievement award for her iconic concert photography, capturing live performances by David Bowie, Queen, The Beatles and more.

Two artists won CAP’s emerging artist awards: visual multimedia artist Atefeh Farajolahzadeh and author Stephanie Ginese, who in 2022 published her debut collection of poetry titled Unto Dogs.

Both designer and creative director Jacinda N. Walker and bassoonist and Oberlin Conservatory of Music associate professor Dana Jessen earned CAP awards for mid-career artists.

Several artists and arts supporters were honored with special prizes from the organization. The Temple-Tifereth Israel museum director Susan Braham Koletsky earned the Robert P. Bergman Prize, while Akron Curated Storefront executive director Richard S. Rogers won the Martha Joseph Prize for Distinguished Service to the Arts.

Joseph P. and Nancy F. Keithley, who have given significant donations to the Cleveland Museum of Art and established an institute for art history at Case Western Reserve University, earned the Barbara S. Robinson Prize for the Advancement of the Arts.

CAP winners will be honored at an Oct. 26 awards event at the Cleveland Museum of Art. Find more information at clevelandartsprize.org.