Princess Grace Foundation-USA Announces 2012 Awards Winners In Theater, Dance & Film

NEW YORK, Aug. 7, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The Princess Grace Foundation-USA (PGF-USA) and its Chairman, Hon. John F. Lehman, announced today the winners of the 2012 Princess Grace Awards.  The Awards for theater, dance and choreography, and film continue the legacy of Princess Grace (Kelly) of Monaco, who helped emerging artists pursue their artistic goals during Her lifetime. This year's 25 Awards winners will travel to New York City, where they will receive their Awards at the 30th Anniversary Princess Grace Awards Gala, held in the presence of TSH The Prince and Princess of Monaco, on October 22, 2012 at Cipriani 42^nd Street.

PGF-USA is also proud to announce the inaugural year of the Princess Grace JustFilms Documentary Awards, made possible by the Ford Foundation's JustFilms program. These funds support social justice documentary film projects, which focus on South Asian and Southeast Asian communities.

Awards winners exemplify both classical and experimental artistic disciplines and, while still considered emerging talent, already show exceptional promise in their areas of expertise. PGF-USA assists their theater and dance studies, helps pay their artistic fees at non-profit companies and helps support their thesis film projects. On the Awards Gala evening, each recipient will receive a wearable objet d'art, created by artist Alex Soldier.

Special Project Awards and Works in Progress Residencies at the Baryshnikov Arts Center offer past Awards winners support for projects that advance their artistic development.  This year there are seven Special Projects and two Works in Progress Residencies.

Past winners of the Awards who distinguish themselves in their artistic disciplines since receiving their initial Awards are eligible for the Princess Grace Statue Award. These Awards include a $25,000 gift and a Bronze Statue of Princess Grace created by Dutch artist Kees Verkade.  This year's winners are: actor Patrick Page and sound designer Darron L West.

PGF-USA, a public charity celebrating its 30^th Anniversary, was formed after the death of Princess Grace in 1982. It awards scholarships, apprenticeships, and fellowships to artists at the start of their careers.  Since the Foundation's inception, more than 700 Awards have been given, totaling more than $9.5 million.

2012 Awards winners: Christine Kite, 212.317.1470, [email protected]
Gala tickets: Tamara Leuchtenburg: 212.245.6570 x15, [email protected]
Gala media: Lisa Lori: 203.228.5090, [email protected]

For a complete list of winners and more information, please visit www.pgfusa.org.

SOURCE Princess Grace Foundation-USA