Walter Cerf Medal for Outstanding Achievement in the Arts
The Walter Cerf Medal is presented to individuals who have made a sustained contribution to the arts and have had an impact on Vermont’s cultural life. The award is named in honor of the late philanthropist Walter Cerf whose generous gifts, exceeding $5 million, have benefited numerous Vermont institutions including the Arts Council. Mr. Cerf was instrumental in establishing the Arts Endowment at the Vermont Community Foundation, and his contributions have created a $1 million fund to assist Vermont’s artists and arts organizations.
Criteria
Selected by the Council, Cerf Medals may be awarded to artists of renown or to those in a closely related field, such as philanthropy, administration, production, education, advocacy, or mentoring, who:
- currently living and resides in Vermont
- have a local, statewide, regional (New England), national, or international reputation in their chosen field as evidenced by third-party acclaim or reviews from independent sources
- have significant recognition in their chosen field by their peers in Vermont
- have a significant body of work and/or record of service available for review by the Council
Recipients
2022
Christal Brown, dancer and choreographer, award video
2021
Pamela Polston, journalist and editor, award video
2020
Hannah Dennison, choreographer, award video
2019
Castle Freeman, author
2018
Alison Bechdel, cartoon artist
2017
Chris Bohjalian, author
2016
Elsie Smith and Serenity Smith Forchion, circus arts performers and teachers
2015
Bill Metcalfe, musician, educator
Elizabeth Metcalfe, musician | video
2014
Bess O’Brien, Kingdom County Productions, documentary filmmaker
2013
Jay Parini, Middlebury College, author, biographer
2012
Arnie Malina, Flynn Center for Performing Arts and
Altoon Sultan, painter
2011
Christian Wolff, musician and composer
2010
Jane Ambrose, UVM Lane Series
Jean Olson, Governor’s Institute of Vermont
Andrea Rogers, Flynn Center for the Performing Arts
2009
John Nassivera, playwright
2007
Charles Ginnever, sculptor
2006
Lucien Day, painter
2005
Pauline Billings, founding chair Vermont Arts Council
2004
Tasha Tudor, illustrator/author
2003
Malcolm Wright, ceramicist/sculptor
Louis Moyse, musician/teacher
2002
David Budbill, poet/playwright
Sam Lloyd, actor
Margaret MacArthur, musician/musicologist
2001
Sterling Weed, musician/orchestra leader/teacher
2000
Mary Azarian, painter/printmaker
Gwyneth Walker, composer
1999
Luis Batlle, musician
Peter Saxe Jennison, writer and publisher
Claire Van Vliet, visual artist
1998
Wolf Kahn, painter
Melvin Kaplan, musician
1996
David Wells, cellist
Freda Rosenblatt, pianist
1995
Vivian Fine, composer
Ruth Stone, poet
Arthur Williams, arts administrator
1994
Helen Rogers, dancer/choreographer
Donald and Joanne Rathgeb, theater
Florence Cushman, pianist
1993
Paul Aschenbach, sculptor
June Gorton, choreographer, dancer
James Hayford, poet
1992
Judith Brown, sculptor
Frank Hewitt, painter
Ron Slayton, painter
Submit a Nomination
Nominations are accepted throughout the year. For information about how to submit a nomination, click here.