Leigh Weimers Emerging Artists Awards 2020

The Leigh Weimers Emerging Artists Awards, presented by the Rotary Club of San Jose, give unrestricted cash grants to local artists who have shown extraordinary originality and dedication in their creative pursuits but have not yet enjoyed widespread recognition. The award honors Leigh Weimers, a longtime Mercury News columnist, arts supporter, and Rotarian.

Eligibility is restricted to residents of Santa Clara County only. The program recognizes outstanding artists in the visual arts, performing arts, written word, and music who have yet to be widely recognized for their talent, vision, and artistic accomplishments. The residency requirement is strictly observed.

The entry fee is $10.00. Applicants may submit up to 20 total work samples, including images (up to 20), audio files (up to 6), and video files (up to 6). Special submission requirements apply for writers: screenplays and scripts require a video of approximately 5 minutes showing a staged or unstaged reading of a scene, along with a brief description and plot summary; novels require a short chapter and book summary; poems and short stories require 3-5 samples. The submission deadline is July 17, 2020 at 5:00 p.m. PDT. Winners will be notified and required to participate in a virtual awards presentation scheduled tentatively for October 14, 2020.