UC Santa Cruz associate professor of Film and Digital Media Sharon Daniel has been honored with a 2008 Media Arts Fellowship from the Tribeca Film Institute (TFI).
She is one of 22 filmmakers and media artists who received a total of $715,000 from the organization in recognition of artistic excellence. The award is given to filmmakers and media artists "whose work is innovative, creative, and pushes boundaries."
"These 22 artists represent some of the most talented and forward-thinking artists creating independent media today" noted Jane Rosenthal, co-chair of the Tribeca Film Institute. "We look forward to their lasting and substantial contribution to independent film and arts."
The TFI Fellowship program was founded and is supported by the Rockefeller Foundation. It offers financial support for artists working in the narrative, documentary, experimental, installation and computer-generated media genres. Daniel received a cash award of $35,000.
Last year Daniel was named an Official Honoree in the Activism category at the 11th annual Webby Awards. Described as the "Oscars of the Internet" by the New York Times, the Webby Awards are the leading international award honoring excellence on the Internet.
Daniel's work has involved collaborations with disenfranchised communities--collecting their stories and building online interfaces that make this information available across social, economic and cultural boundaries. Her goal is to not attempt to speak for others, but instead to allow them to speak for themselves.
Daniel's work has been exhibited internationally at numerous museums and festivals including the Corcoran Biennial, Ars Electronica and the Lincoln Center Festival. She joined the UC Santa Cruz faculty in 1996, and currently teaches classes in digital media theory and practice.
Contact the author at srapp@ucsc.edu.
