the theater is a blank page honored by Greater Columbus Arts Council

We at the Wex were thrilled and honored upon hearing that the Greater Columbus Arts Council had selected the theater is a blank page to receive the 2015 Artistic Excellence Award. This bold and utterly unique collaboration between Ann Hamilton and SITI Company culminated their shared Wexner Center Artist Residency Award, and had its world premiere here in April. We were in wonderful company at GCAC’s Community Arts Partnership luncheon—amidst civic and corporate leaders, arts professionals, creative artists, patrons and, of course, an array of impressive fellow nominees. Altogether an inspiring reminder of the ever more vibrant Columbus arts scene.

The last time the Wex received this award was in 1991, just after we had opened our doors, no doubt more in recognition of our promise and potential than actual boots-on-the-ground accomplishment. So yesterday’s honor was all the more sweet for coming at the close of our 25^th Anniversary season. We are enormously grateful to Matt Slaybaugh, director of Available Light Theatre, for his passionate and persuasive nomination of the theater is a blank page for this award.

This sweeping theatrical experience was the realization of an ambitious (and risky) vision set forth by Ann Hamilton, Anne Bogart, and SITI Company—made possible by the dedication and ingenuity of the talented Wexner Center staff. In this instance, our Performing Arts and Tech Services departments provided superb curatorial leadership and professional prowess from earliest conceptual planning through final realization of the work, with the crucial participation of our crack House Management team. I want to also extend my gratitude to staff members in Marketing/Communications, Design, Development, and Patron Services—who rose to the occasion with dexterity and panache to ensure sold-out houses and memorable audience experiences for all. Initiatives of this epic scope and scale require a truly collective commitment, one that was consummately fulfilled by the entire Wex team!