Greenwood Library along with Longwood University’s art department and the Longwood Visual Arts Center (LCVA) are collaborating to debut a new award for junior and senior art students.
According to Brent Roberts, dean of the library, the award will be named in honor of the library.
"At this point, we are just calling them the Greenwood Library Student Art Award." Roberts explained. "This is the first time we've ever done it."
The awards will be presented by the library at the LCVA”s annual exhibition of student art on April 29, according to Rachel Ivers, executive director of the LCVA.
“(The presentation event) it follows the community achievement arts awards.” Ivers noted. “They’re (the art students) are getting ready now. They have to install their own work. It’s a requirement of their degree.”
The show for juniors opens on April 19 in Bedford Hall, according to Roberts. The show for seniors opens on Saturday, April 8.
According to Roberts, there are three different awards for both the senior and junior categories.
"There are multiple awards. We are giving out three awards in both the junior and the senior student art shows." Roberts noted. “One is to be selected by our student library advisory committee, and one by our faculty library advisory committee, which is a committee of the faculty senate. The third one will be selected by our library staff."
Winners will receive recognition and a cash award.
"The students will each get a fabulous certificate ... There will also be a cash prize of $200.” Roberts commented. “And then, in addition to both of those they will also have their art installed and on exhibit in Greenwood Library for one year ... This is part of the library's commitment to showcasing student work."
According to Roberts and Ivers, the idea originated from the library and the art department who then reached out to LCVA.
“They had this great idea ... And I said why don’t you bring it here, we’re already announcing the senior acquisition,” said Ivers..
The senior acquisition is a piece of art created by a graduating Longwood University senior and purchased by the LCVA, according to Ivers.
“Every year we purchase a piece from the senior show.” Ivers explained. “It’s our way of connecting the art department, the art majors at Longwood, who are very talented with our community at large.”
The student art exhibition has the largest attendance of any LCVA event. The exhibit features art exclusively from Longwood art students, but is open to the public to visit.
“It’s our largest attended exhibition of the year. Last year we had 636 people, which is a lot,” said Ivers.
According to Ivers, art minors are also allowed to participate in addition to art majors.
“I hope it will encourage more people minoring in art to get their work out there,” said Ivers.
This award has hopes of connecting the Farmville community with the Longwood community, according to Ivers.
“We are going to introduce them to the community, and their work will be on view while this event is going on as well.” Ivers explained. “We’re hoping to get across to our art majors that they have support in this community, that there are people who love the arts and are willing to advocate for it.”
"We want students to know that the library isn't just for research. It's about student creativity,” said Roberts.
Some of the amazing artwork being shown at the Longwood Center for Visual Arts is that which won the Library Art Award.
