Ann Arbor Times

The Ann Arbor Public Art Commission is announcing Embracing Our Differences, a local nonprofit organization, as the winner of the 2023 Golden Paintbrush Community Voice award, in addition to the earlier announcement of their 2023 Golden Paintbrush Awards honor. The Community Voice Award selection, by community vote, took place online this past fall. CultureVerse, a local non-profit that connects artists with technology, also received the 2023 Golden Paintbrush Award. 

“The Public Art Commission thanks our judges and everyone in the community who voted and is helping shine a light on the artistic creativity in our community," said Sophie Grillet, a member of the Public Art Commission. “The Golden Paintbrush recognized qualities including creativity, craftsmanship and community involvement, exemplified by the work of Nancy Margolis and the team behind Embracing Our Differences," added Peggy Leonard, also of the Public Art Commission.   

More about the Community Voice Award nominees: 

Embracing Our Differences (award winner) 

The mission of Embracing Our Differences (EOD) is to use the power of art and education to expand consciousness and open the heart to celebrate the diversity of the human family. It was founded in 2021 by Nancy Margolis. 

The art from EOD consists of 16- by12-foot, billboard-size posters which are mounted in parks in Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti. EOD chooses featured artwork from an open call, to represent the theme of “enriching our lives through diversity." EOD's associated year-round education reaches and impacts the lives of thousands of students and teachers. 

CultureVerse 

CultureVerse was nominated for their projects, “Say Yes Fest" and “Sandcastle Petals." These art happenings involved active community engagement on Main Street and at their gallery. 

CultureVerse's mission is to serve the local and global community by expanding opportunities to access and experience projects, storytelling, and creative expression of artists, educators, students and preservationists. CultureVerse provides technology, training, consultation and other resources in order to create equitable and sustainable opportunities. They aim to bridge the gap between creator and community so that all people may be enriched by the ever-expanding breadth of art and knowledge.  

The Golden Paintbrush Awards will once again be seeking nominations in 2025. Visit www.a2gov.org/golden (https://www.a2gov.org/departments/public-services/Pages/Golden-Paintbrush-Award.aspx) for more information. 

Original source can be found here.