the YBCA team, he spoke explicitly about the very ideas that have earned him this award, andhis desire to locate his passion for artistic growth and community engagement at YBCA. We areexcited to be able to both support his talents and fully integrate his expansive vision into ourlarger purpose <strong>of</strong> revolutionizing how the world engages with contemporary art and ideas. Wecould not be happier for him, and for us.‖Each member <strong>of</strong> the first class will receive an unrestricted, multi-year cash grant <strong>of</strong> $225,000,plus as much as $50,000 more in targeted support for retirement savings and audiencedevelopment. DDCF is granting these awards as part <strong>of</strong> a $50 million, ten-year commitmentover and above its existing funding for the performing arts. Provided to honorees through arigorous, anonymous process <strong>of</strong> peer review─no applications are accepted─the grants are nottied to any specific project, but are made as investments in the artists’ personal and pr<strong>of</strong>essionaldevelopment and future work.―The last 10 days have felt like one long incredible dream and today's public announcement <strong>of</strong>the inaugural class <strong>of</strong> <strong>Doris</strong> Duke Artist Awards has lovingly brought my friends, family, andcollaborators into the unfolding fantasy,‖ said <strong>Marc</strong> <strong>Bamuthi</strong> <strong>Joseph</strong>. ―I recognize this momentas both an honor and an admonition to keep working towards increasingly fertile environmentsfor the arts to thrive. To that end, I receive this honor in the hope that its visibility will bringadded weight to the re-framing <strong>of</strong> arts practice in the United States. I don't doubt that among thegalaxy <strong>of</strong> exceptional artists in America, there are uncountable dancers, musicians and theatermakers that are equally as deserving <strong>of</strong> this award. I advocate for community engagement andcuratorial practice that is in fact performative and internalized, a politic <strong>of</strong> belief that manifestsitself as intentional community design. In this moment, and hopefully for many years to come,Yerba Buena Center for the <strong>Arts</strong>, and the design <strong>of</strong> its performing arts agenda is the site <strong>of</strong> myarts practice. It is and will be the site <strong>of</strong> our team's creative risk and re-framing, and I amhumbled to represent this institution and to serve as an ambassador for its incredible globalvision and local import.‖The twenty other awardees are:• Anne Bogart, theatre (New York, NY)• Don Byron, jazz (New York, NY)• Wally Cardona, dance (Brooklyn, NY)