"One nomination -- of many! -- succinctly summarized John Rankine's contributions to the arts community in Eureka Springs as 'profound and far-reaching,'" says Sarah Mote, a spokeswoman for the Mid-America Arts Alliance's Artists 360 Creative Impact Award.
"His efforts have not only elevated the town's cultural profile," Mote quotes, "but have also had a lasting impact on the lives of countless artists, a testament to the enduring value of his work."
Rankine calls the recently announced award -- which comes with a cash grant of $25,000 -- "a huge validation from a group of professional peers. I know the competition out there for this award, and I am very humbled."
A total of 31 Northwest Arkansas artists were selected for Artists 360's seventh cohort, receiving $300,000 in grants thanks to increased funding from the Walton Family Foundation, according to Diane Scott, director of artist services at the Kansas City-based Mid-America Arts Alliance.