The “Community Outreach by an Organization” award goes to Hilltop Artists in Residence (HART) for their service to the youth of Tacoma through nine tuition-free glass arts training programs at Jason Lee Middle School, Wilson High School and Ford Middle School. The program serves a diverse group of youth and is especially effective with young people who are searching for ways to connect and belong. There is an additional focus on assisting those who find themselves struggling academically, socially or behaviorally. HART also provides specific outreach in communities that are dealing with high risk factors related to poverty, neglect, homelessness, substance abuse and violence.

 

 

Once again this year Hilltop Artists has been chosen to create pieces for the Weyerhaeuser Presidential awards, Tacoma’s City of Destiny awards and to decorate the “Washington State” tree for the National Tree Lighting in Washington DC. HART has also been commissioned to create a tree for the “Festival of Trees” and has been asked to create another installation at Wright Park’s Seymour Conservatory next spring. These are just a few of the commissions we have received from the community.

In addition we have also been awarded grants from the Anchor Fund, Washington State Arts Commission, and the City of Tacoma. Hilltop Artists has also been chosen to participate in “Art at Work” month.

 

In 1999 HART was honored at the White House with the "Coming Up Taller" Award from the National Endowment for the Arts and the President’s Committee for the Arts and Humanities, being recognized as a program that could “inspire others to use the power of the arts and the humanities to give all children the best chance for a creative, productive, safe and optimistic future.”

Hilltop Artists’ glass is featured at numerous prestigious events and venues; we are commissioned annually to provide the gifts for the Weyerhaeuser Presidential Awards, the Tacoma City of Destiny Awards, to decorate the Washington State Tree at the White House, and to create centerpieces and auction items for over fifteen local organizations each year. HART was commissioned to create a large-scale installation in Tacoma’s historical landmark, the Seymour Botanical conservatory at Wright’s Park. This installation celebrated the 100^th anniversary of the conservatory and provided an incredible opportunity for our students to develop their individual artistic voices and grow beyond the boundaries of their previous creative abilities. There is now a permanent section of the gift shop devoted to Hilltop Artists’ glass and to the students who make it. This followed the completion of another major, permanent installation at the Chambers Bay Golf course clubhouse, where Hilltop glass art is featured throughout.

In November 2008, HART received one of four Rusty George Creative (RGC) awards, with a value of $20,000 for their design services.