$30,000 in grants split among three Cleveland artists at 2026 Arts Prize ceremony

The Cleveland Arts Prize has recognized artists and advocates in Northeast Ohio since 1961, serving as the oldest municipal arts award in the United States. This year, the jury selected three recipients for its juried discipline prizes, each receiving a $10,000 grant.

Chris Webb, a playwright, actor, and journalist, was named the 2026 Emerging Artist. He trained at CalArts and the Royal Scottish Academy before returning to his hometown. Last year, he presented the one-person show "The End of Black Excellence" at Cleveland Public Theater, a production that received critical acclaim.

Aimee Lee received the Mid-Career Artist award for her work as a papermaking artist. She established the first hanji studio in North America in Cleveland and published the book "Hanji Unfurled" in 2012. Her work is currently on display at the Kent State University Museum and has previously been shown at the Cleveland Museum of Art and Korean Cultural Centers in Washington, D.C., and Abu Dhabi.

Dexter Lee Davis was selected for the Lifetime Achievement prize. A lifelong Clevelander, Davis creates collage-based works that layer hand-carved woodblock prints with found paper and other materials. His art spans several media and reflects the urban violence he experienced during his formative years.

The winners will be honored at a ceremony at the Cleveland Museum of Art on Thursday. The awards are administered by the Women's City Club, which established the prize in 1961. In addition to the three juried prizes, the jury will present four special prizes at the event.

Webb described the award as a validation of the city's artistic output, noting that Cleveland often lacks national recognition for the work produced within its borders. He stated that the prize maintains the lineage of world-class art made by local people for local reasons.

Lee emphasized the importance of community recognition in the place where she lives and works. She moved from New York to Cleveland in 2013, citing the Morgan Conservatory and the support of its founder, Tom Balbo, as key factors. She noted that the cost of living in Cleveland was also a significant draw compared to her previous location.

Davis compared the Cleveland Arts Prize to the Oscar awards for Cleveland art. He credited the Cleveland Institute of Art and the Cleveland Museum of Art for providing resources that helped him grow as a young artist. He is currently preparing for an upcoming retrospective and is working on a new body of work titled shadows.

Webb is remounting "The End of Black Excellence" at Cleveland Public Theater in November for four performances. This will be the final chance for local audiences to see the show before it continues its national tour. He is also developing "The End of Black Love," the second installment of his series, which will utilize life-size puppets to explore interpersonal dynamics.

Lee is organizing the inaugural hanji summit at Penland School of Craft in North Carolina this fall. The two-week gathering will bring together former students and other artists to make hanji and discuss the future of Korean papermaking. Davis added that the prize could help restore the local community if it continues to work with residents.