Theresa Pollak (1899-2002), founder of both the Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts and the University of Richmond arts program, made an incalculable impact on the Richmond region. By extension, the students who've attended those schools and moved into the wider world have made differences in their communities.
Here in Richmond, those effects are vital and visible. The honorees of the past dozen years are an enduring part of Pollak's legacy, and, like her, many of them have challenged orthodoxies, altered perceptions and brought new ideas to light. Still others entertain us and get us up to dance. And that's part of the whole picture that Pollak painted.
The 2009 selection panel included: Phaedra Hise, writer; Jay Barrows, curator and 2008 co-Lifetime Achievement honoree; Katherine Leatherwood Brakman, filmmaker; David Bridgewater, actor, 2008 Theater honoree; Scott Putman, 2008 Dance honoree; Brooke Saunders and Pam McCarthy, both of the Richmond Floating Folk Festival.
Ensemble: The Taters
Fine Art: Pam Anderson
Photography: Gordon Stettinius
Lifetime Achievement: Jennie and Larry Brown
Words: Dean King
Applied Arts: Brian Korte
Vocalist: Page Wilson
Dance: Rob Petres, Ground Zero Dance
Theater: Ginnie Willard
Emerging Artist: Morgan Herrin
Film: Robert Griffith
Arts Innovator: Michael Gooding
