Center for the Arts receives Telly Award for Music is Art LIVE @ The Center

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Music is Art LIVE @ The Center, a television series of the Center for the Arts at the University at Buffalo, has been chosen as a recipient of a Bronze Telly Award for Lighting Design. With a record 13,379 entries from all 50 states and around the world, this year's competition is regarded as the most competitive and successful in the 27-year history of the Telly Awards.

Founded in 1979, the Telly Awards is the premier award honoring outstanding local, regional and cable TV commercials and programs, as well as the finest video and film productions. Winners represent the best work of the most respected advertising agencies, production companies, television stations, cable operators, and corporate video departments in the world.

This year's winners include companies, agencies and organizations of all sizes, from large multinational media companies to small ad agencies and local production houses. Winners include: BET Jazz, CNN, Disneyland Resort, FX Networks, GEICO, HGTV, Marshall Field's, Microsoft, MSNBC, NBA Entertainment, NBC Universal Global Network, Nickelodeon, Nike, QVC and The History Channel.

A prestigious judging panel of 27 accomplished industry professionals evaluated entries to recognize distinction in creative work. Entries do not compete against each other; rather entries are judged against a high standard of merit.

In March 2005, the Center for the Arts and the Music is Art Foundation (led by Robby Takac of the Goo Goo Dolls) began collaborating on a new project entitled Music is Art LIVE @ The Center. The free weekly series features a unique blend of cutting-edge musicians performing and visual artists working in a coffeehouse atmosphere. Each event showcases two musical groups and up to seven visual artists, while a multiple-camera crew captures footage for a half-hour television episode. Seasons 1 and 2 have aired on Sunday evenings on WNLO-TV to strong ratings. Season 3 is being edited for broadcast, and there are plans to continue the live series in the fall.

Thomas Burrows, executive director of the Center for the Arts, said, "We have always felt a deep commitment to this project and are pleased with the way the community has rallied behind it. This award emphasizes the standard of excellence upheld by our production staff and opens more possibilities for televised events originating from the Center for the Arts."

This project has generated excitement by infusing Western New York arts and campus life into the community. More than 6,000 patrons have attended the live events and 300,000 households have watched the television series on WNLO-TV (UPN 23) to date. The series has featured 46 musical artists representing over 20 music genres with 90 visual artists representing over 20 different mediums.  The center has also provided 43 students educational opportunities by way of its professional internship program. 

The Center for the Arts at the University at Buffalo is a non-profit organization that presents a wide range of high quality performing arts and visual arts for the university, Western New York and beyond. The center is the largest and most versatile arts organization in the region. Its mission is to nurture excellence and innovation in the arts through presentation, education and service to the community.

To learn more about the Telly Awards, visit http://www.tellyawards.com.