Celebrating Artistic Excellence: The Princess Grace Foundation-USA 2024 Award Winners
In a year that marks four decades of unwavering commitment to nurturing emerging artistic talent, the Princess Grace Foundation-USA proudly announces its 2024 Award winners. This milestone celebrates 18 Princess Grace Awards and 11 Honoraria recipients, each an emblem of excellence in theater, dance, and film. With four distinct award programs—the Princess Grace Award, Special Project Grant, Grace Kelly Scholarship, and the reintroduced Princess Grace Statue Award—this year's honorees join a prestigious community of over 900 artists who the Foundation's support has uplifted.
Diana Kemppainen, President of the Princess Grace Foundation-USA, expresses the foundation's pride and excitement:
"I am delighted to announce the 2024 Princess Grace Award winners and Honoraria recipients. As we celebrate 40 years of unparalleled grant-making and a steadfast commitment to extraordinary artistry, I thank our esteemed artistic luminaries who serve as Arts Advisory Council members and panelists. Their discerning judgment and dedication have been instrumental in selecting this distinguished cohort of artists in theater, dance, and film. We eagerly anticipate the contributions these artists will make to the cultural landscape.”
Honoring excellence in four categories
- The Princess Grace Award remains the Foundation’s flagship accolade, recognizing artists who demonstrate exceptional promise in the early stages of their respective fields of theater, dance, or film. This year’s recipients embody a spirit of innovation and creativity central to the Foundation’s mission. The Princess Grace Award provides winners with a $15,000 grant and Honoraria recipients with $1,500, all as unrestricted cash prizes directly supporting their artistic endeavors. A Playwriting Fellowship is also offered through a partnership with New Dramatists.
“The Princess Grace Award is a great encouragement to continue to believe in my process of artistic creation, one that requires patience and time to create human connection and mutual understanding. This honor is deeply moving and keeps me hopeful for the path I have chosen as a filmmaker.” - Nicole Chi (Film 2024), Princess Grace Award winner.
- The Special Project Grant supports past Princess Grace Award winners and Honoraria recipients, providing the means to evolve their creative growth through impactful projects. This grant underscores the Foundation's commitment to the ongoing development of artists who have already made significant contributions to the arts but are at a critical juncture in their career.
- The Grace Kelly Scholarship for Thespian Excellence, supported by the Victory Foundation, encourages emerging theater talent at the high school level. In partnership with the Educational Theatre Foundation, these scholarships provide:
- Essential resources and guidance.
- Offering a 4-year college scholarship paired with a Princess Grace Award mentor.
- A one-time artistic training scholarship for high school students.
This scholarship ensures budding artists have the resources and financial support to hone their craft and pursue their dreams.
- Reintroduced this year, the Princess Grace Statue Award is a prestigious accolade recognizing sustained excellence and contribution to the arts. The Award was established in 1985 to pay homage to the enduring impact of artists who have excelled in their disciplines and inspired the next generation of creatives. Given to previous Princess Grace Award winners who have distinguished themselves in their chosen field of theater, dance, or film, the Statue Award comes with a $25,000 unrestricted cash grant and a bronze statue of Princess Grace by artist Kees Verkade. Notable honorees include:
- Choreographer Kyle Abraham
- Set designer Riccardo Hernandez
- Film director Chinonye Chukwu
- Costume designer Paul Tazewell
- Tap dancer Dormeshia Sumbry-Edwards
"My original Princess Grace Award back in 2009 was the first professional recognition I ever received as a playwright, and it was an absolute watershed event in my life. It was the first time I truly felt like a life in this art might be possible. And now to be returning to these old stomping grounds with one of my oldest friends and dearest collaborators to share this new honor is enough to make a heart explode. I'm so grateful.” - Branden Jacobs-Jenkins (Playwriting 2009), 2024 Princess Grace Statue Award winner.
"Receiving the Princess Grace Award in 2013 was an instrumental springboard in my life, creatively and professionally. I admire so deeply what the Foundation does for artists at critical inflection points in their development, and I'm wildly honored to be receiving the Statue Award.” - Lila Neugebauer (Theater 2013), Princess Grace Statue Award winner.
A legacy of artistic support
The Princess Grace Foundation-USA’s commitment extends beyond mere financial assistance. Award recipients gain access to a robust network of past winners and industry professionals, offering invaluable opportunities for career development and artistic collaboration. Notable Princess Grace Award winners include: Jon M. Chu director of Crazy Rich Asians and upcoming Wicked; Sundance Grand Jury Prize winner and director of Till Chinonye Chukwu; Tony Award winner director Anna Shapiro; Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winner playwright Tony Kushner; Golden Globe Award winner Oscar Isaac; Tony Award winner Leslie Odom, Jr; American Ballet Theatre’s Gillian Murphy and Isabella Boylston; New York City Ballet’s Tiler Peck; and choreographers Kyle Abraham and Camille A. Brown.
The Foundation's comprehensive support system ensures that each artist can fully realize their potential, contributing to the vibrancy and diversity of the cultural landscape.
“I have long been moved by the extraordinary support of the Princess Grace Foundation to some of our nation's emerging and inspirational artists. To be counted among the number of so many I have admired is deeply artistically affirming and pushes me further towards my purpose as a director and theatre maker." - Alexis Kulani Woodard (Theater 2024), Princess Grace Award winner.
Grace de Monaco: Luxury for Good
Integral to the Foundation's mission is Grace de Monaco, a luxury brand that embodies the elegance and philanthropic spirit of its namesake, Princess Grace. Grace de Monaco channels 100% of its profits to the Princess Grace Foundation-USA through its innovative luxury-for-good retail model. This synergy ensures that every purchase offers exquisite craftsmanship and timeless beauty and contributes to a greater cause.
"As the CEO of Grace de Monaco, I am immensely proud of our commitment to excellence and philanthropy. From elegant fragrances to stunning eyewear, our products are crafted with the highest quality standards. Each item is not just a symbol of luxury but also a testament to our dedication to philanthropy and support for the arts. Through this unique model, Grace de Monaco enables patrons to be part of a larger narrative where luxury meets altruism and shopping serves a higher purpose," said Claudia Poccia, CEO of Grace de Monaco.
Looking ahead
As the Princess Grace Foundation-USA celebrates its 40th anniversary, it remains steadfast in its mission to support and uplift emerging artists. The 2024 Award winners and Honoraria recipients testify to the Foundation's enduring legacy of excellence and dedication to the arts.
As Ms. Kemppainen expressed, the future of the cultural landscape is bright, with each award recipient poised to make significant contributions. Grace de Monaco continues to play a pivotal role in this journey, ensuring that Princess Grace's spirit lives on through the support of artistic brilliance.
In this harmonious blend of philanthropy and luxury, the Princess Grace Foundation-USA and Grace de Monaco create a lasting impact, nurturing today's artists, and inspiring tomorrow's visionaries.
The 2024 Princess Grace Award winners will be celebrated alongside the 2023 Princess Grace Award winners in a joint celebration at the Princess Grace Awards Gala, held in the presence of H.S.H Prince Albert II of Monaco on October 23 at The Pierre Hotel in New York.
Shop Grace de Monaco fragrances, home accents, and accessories that support Princess Grace’s commitment to the arts and illuminate the path ahead for emerging artists.
