Center for the Arts receives five Telly Awards

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- The Center for the Arts at the University at Buffalo has been selected to receive five Telly Awards in recognition of the television productions: Music is Art LIVE @ The Center; Bullseye; and The Mystical Arts of Tibet.

Founded in 1978, 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. The Telly Awards annually showcases the best work of the most respected advertising agencies, production companies, television stations, cable operators, and corporate video departments in the world. The Telly Awards is a widely known and highly respected national and international competition and receives more than 13,000 entries annually from across 50 states and five continents.

Thomas Burrows, executive director of the Center for the Arts, said, "In less than three years, the television productions initiated by the Center for the Arts have achieved national recognition. This is a testament to the fine work performed by the professional staff involved in this enterprise, and we are grateful for their special talents."

This year's winners include companies, agencies and organizations of all sizes. A sample of recent winners includes: Animal Planet/Discovery, Children's Miracle Network, Warner Bros., Miami Dolphins, Ltd., PGA Tour Productions, SCI FI Channel and the Disneyland Resort.

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

The television productions and related Telly Awards are:

Music is Art LIVE @ the Center -- Three Telly Awards for entertainment, editing, and lighting. Music is Art LIVE @ The Center celebrates Western New York's best contemporary musicians and visual artists in a series of weekly live performances in the Center for the Arts at the University at Buffalo. Each episode highlights the intimate original musical performances, visual arts demonstrations and the stories behind the artist's work.

To date Music is Art LIVE @ The Center has presented 41 free shows with 10,000 total attendees. The program has reached 1 million households. The programs have featured 81 musical artists representing more than 25 music genres, and 125 visual artists are featured representing more than 25 different mediums. The center has received a total of seven Telly Awards for this program to date.

The Mystical Arts of Tibet -- Telly Award for cultural programming. Actor Richard Gere and other Tibetan experts share their insights on the ritual ceremonies and culture of Tibet, as seen during a visit by the Dalai Lama to the University at Buffalo in 2006. In celebration of the historic visit, a group of Buddhist monks in residence at the Center for the Arts create a traditional sand mandala and perform sacred music and dance, sharing their unique cultural heritage.

Bullseye -- Telly Award for sports documentary. Produced from August 2007 to March 2008, Bullseye features UB Bulls football, basketball and other team sports.

The Center for the Arts is dedicated to the cultural enrichment of the University at Buffalo and its surrounding communities through the presentation of public arts and cultural events of the highest quality. Celebrating the creative process through innovative programming, the center crosses socio-economic, cultural, and disciplinary boundaries. The center nurtures excellence and innovation in the arts through education, presentation, community service, and research in the visual and performing arts, while broadening the base of understanding, appreciation, and support for the arts through meaningful community partnerships.