Cultural Alliance Awards $10,000 to Ambitious Caban, First-Ever Artist Innovator Award Winner

York, PA – The Cultural Alliance of York County is pleased to announce the winner of the first–ever Artist Innovator Award, Ambitious Caban.  The $10,000 cash award was presented publicly on Sunday, October 12^th at the Spanish-American Multicultural Resource Center’s festival at the Crispus Attucks, where Ambitious Caban then performed. 

Ambitious Caban, born Ana Mercado, is an independent artist, from York, PA. She’s an entrepreneur, owner of Royal Court Barber Lounge and founder of the annual “back to school giveathon” creative director and community leader.  Her discography includes 2 eps, “Made for this” released in 2018, produced by Ralph Real Productions and “La Barbera” released in 2019 also produced by Ralph real productions in collaboration with Studio 77 in Lancaster, PA. 

The Artist Innovator Award was created to highlight and reward the exceptional level of artistic talent that exists in York County.  Ambitious Caban was chosen as the award winner after a panel of peer reviewers and jurors from outside of York County, and in fact, across the nation, narrowed down the search to 7 finalists, and then to a single winner from those 7. 

The additional award finalists were:

• Literary Arts– Carol Clark Williams
• Music – Thaddeus Shaw
• Visual Arts – Ophelia Chambliss
• Visual Arts – Abigail Crone
• Performing Arts – Krystal Younglove
• Video/Film – Miles Murdaugh

The winner and finalists’ profiles and contact information, as well as many other talented artists from York County can all be found at www.york365.com.

Artists working in any medium and whom live in York Cunty are invited to create a profile of their work on the arts and culture website, York365.com in order to be considered for next year’s award.  For additional information on the award including how to be considered in 2021, visit www.culturalyork.org/artistinnovatoraward.  Please contact Rita@culturalyork.org or call 717-812-9255 with any questions.

Founded as a United Arts Fund in 1999, the Cultural Alliance’s annual campaign currently powers arts organizations and artists that are essential to arts and culture in our community and over the last 20 years has invested over $10.4 million in cash and $2.2 million in in-kind support for the arts.   Under its new more inclusive and diverse operating model, The Cultural Alliance will be expanding its funding to further grow and strengthen arts and culture in York County.

For more information, call the Cultural Alliance at 717-812-9255, visit our website at www.culturalyork.org, visit the Cultural Alliance of York on Facebook, and follow @CulturalYork on Instagram.