COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- The Greater Columbus Arts Council, in partnership with the Columbus Museum of Art, is set to give out the Aminah Robinson Fellowship Award to one lucky local artist next year.
The award is an opportunity for one young African American artist in central Ohio to harness all their creativity with no limits, if only for a short amount of time.
The fellowship is, in part, to celebrate the life and legacy of local artist Aminah Robinson. Robinson (1940-2015) is a renowned Columbus artist who represented Black history through art.
Vice president of communications of the Greater Columbus Arts Council Jami Goldstein believes it was imperative for this program to allow one professional African American artist who lives in Franklin County receives access to Aminah's home and a $15,000 award.
“We felt it was incredibly important, along with the museum, that we that we really treasure her memory, treasure her home and all of the wonderful art in it and provide this opportunity to African American artists in Franklin County,” Goldstein said.
The 2024 recipient, Jana Cardwell, is an art teacher at the Columbus Bilingual Academy and said she knows the effect this program can have on an artist's development.
“I liked being at the house, I even asked if I can stay a little longer, but it's very important for artists to be able to do this,” Cardwell said. “Its very important. People who are visual artists, musicians, people who write -- this is very important to have that quiet the time to you and let you think and then it all comes together.”
Cardwell is only the fifth recipient of this award, but she hopes the fellowship continues to be a haven for Black artists to grow and live in their truth.
“Every artist has a story to tell, every artist has a background, every artist views art differently through their eyes,” Cardwell said. “So, in order to get it on canvas, everybody else can see it. It tells a story, just like Aminah Robinson told stories in her artwork.”
Applications for the 2025 Aminah Robinson Fellowship are open until Oct. 1.
