В Сиэтле возобновили церемонию Genius Awards с денежными призами для творцов

The Stranger’s Genius Awards began in 2003 as an attempt to recognize our favorite artists, and, crucially, to give them money. The awards changed shape over the years, then disappeared altogether after 2016. A decade later, we wanted them back. I knew that meant two things: It was going to feel so good to put real money* into the hands of artists making this city more interesting, and choosing them was going to be excruciating. What even is genius? The Genius Committee—Stranger staff writers Julianne Bell, Amanda Manitach, Charles Mudede, and Audrey Vann, as well as contributors Katie Lee Ellison, Jas Keimig, Bess Lovejoy, Dave Segal, Meg van Huygen, and Michael Wong—set off to find out. We began this (hard!) process by making long (long!) lists across the Film, Food, Literature, Music, Performance, and Visual Art categories. The criteria we’d been thinking about were something like: Who is creating work we can’t stop thinking about? Who is making this city stranger, cooler, sharper, more beautiful, or more alive? Who is building something that would leave a sad hole if it disappeared? We weighed and pondered. We researched, compared notes, advocated, reconsidered, made cases, changed our minds, and went around and around. Someone would make an airtight case, and then someone else would make another. The lists grew shorter, then somehow longer again. But then we knew. And when we knew, we knew. We’re fucking thrilled with where we landed. On these next pages you will find a fantastic group of six Actual Fucking Geniuses. We’re also aware that six winners cannot possibly contain the amount of excellent work happening here, so you’ll find a small assortment of groups and projects we love right now. Not finalists, really, but other folks from our lists who prove just how much is happening here. After all, it’s never too early to start plotting Genius 2027! The Genius Awards are a work in progress. So is Seattle. But we ride hard for this city’s artists, and it feels very, very good to be making a huge fuss about them again. Come make one with us September 12 at the Moore Theatre. There will be giant checks, trophies, drag, music, and dancing. Dress up! Or ELSE. —Emily Nokes, Arts Editor Winner in Film: The Beacon Cinema Short List: Six More Film Faves on Our Radar Winner in Food: Chef Lisa Bi Short List: Six More Food Faves on Our Radar Winner in Music: Kay Redden/Den Tapes Short List: Six More Music Faves on Our Radar Winner in Performance: Betty Wetter & TUSH Short List: Six More Performance Faves on Our Radar Winner in Literature: Anastacia-Reneé Short List: Six More Literature Faves on Our Radar Winner in Visual Arts: Actualize Artist in Residency Short List: Six More Visual Art Faves on Our Radar Culture & Community: Six Bonus Faves *A Genius Award comes with $10,000, and that money comes with no strings attached. They can blow it on [redacted] on a beach in [redacted] for all we care—they deserve to spend it like rich people spend money, without anyone asking for proof of whatever afterward, and without being means-tested or sent through a bureaucracy hell maze to begin with.