This award recognizes distinguished scholarly achievement and creative arts’ achievement at the master’s level in Creative, Visual, and Performing Arts Disciplines.

Eligibility

The scholarly or creative work eligible for this competition is one of the following:

• A traditional, formal written thesis;
• A major capstone paper or creative product (e.g. collection of poetry);
• An audio, video, or digital file of a performance, portfolio, or exhibition.

Since many fine and performing arts Master's projects involve a combination of written and artistic products, both may be submitted for review (if applicable) and considered in the decision for the award.  Nominees must have successfully completed all requirements for their scholarly or creative work in the context of degree progression and/or completion.

Typically, this means that a written thesis will have been successfully defended and final copy submitted; their major capstone paper or creative product will have been submitted and evaluated for degree completion; or their performance, portfolio, or exhibition will have been publicly presented and/or evaluated for degree completion, as appropriate within the period of July 1, 2020, through June 30, 2021.

Nominees must be from a WAGS member institution (UCSD is a WAGS member)

Evaluation Criteria

• Originality
• Aesthetic Merit
• Technical execution
• Potential to reach beyond the original academic audience through future performance, exhibition, or publication

Nomination Packet

Nominators will be required to prepare/upload the following required materials as one PDF document using the following file name convention: "Nominee's Last Name Nominee's Institution_WAGSCreative.pdf" and upload it through the Google Form: WAGS/ProQuest or by using the blue 'SUBMIT' icon button directly below.

Required Materials must be assembled in the same order as listed:

1. A non-technical summary prepared by the nominee (1000-1500 words) describing the research, artistic approach, inspiration and/or major influences, and its significance.  This summary is intended for a general academic audience of non-specialists.  For those submitting projects that involve a public performance or exhibition, we encourage a video recording of the event as well, so that the scope and impact of the event can be considered.
2. An abstract or example of the nominee's research or project (not to exceed 10 double-spaced pages).  Appendices containing nontextual material, such as charts or tables, may be included as additional pages.  All pages should be numbered, and each should bear the name of the nominee.
3. Two (2) nomination letters (not to exceed 1 page per letter).  One letter from the department head or major professor and one letter from an additional faculty member.  The letters should include information regarding the significance of the thesis and/or project, the contribution of the thesis and/or project to the program of the degree granting unit, and the impact of the knowledge base of the discipline.
4. The nominee's curriculum vitae or resume (not to exceed five pages).