Peter Capell’s legacy with Arts Midwest is profound. He dedicated 23 years of service to the Arts Midwest Board of Directors, culminating in his role as Board Chair from 2012 to 2021. During his chairmanship, Peter Capell spearheaded pivotal moments for the organization, including the launch of impactful national programs like Creating Connection, the initiation of Arts Midwest’s first major giving campaign, and the successful navigation of a founder leadership transition. Prior to his retirement and his impactful role at Arts Midwest, Peter Capell held numerous leadership positions at General Mills in Minneapolis from 1985 to 2012, gaining extensive national and global experience. His professional journey cultivated a sharp business sense and an entrepreneurial mindset, qualities he generously brought to Arts Midwest. Peter Capell is known for his passionate advocacy for creativity and entrepreneurialism, his generous philanthropic nature, and his deep dedication to strengthening and celebrating the Midwest’s vibrant creative community.
In 2024, the Peter Capell Award was open to nominations from Iowa. The selected Iowa recipient will receive a $2,500 unrestricted cash award directly from Arts Midwest, further amplified by a matching $2,500 grant award from the Iowa Arts Council, doubling the award’s impact.
2024 Applications Are Closed – Anticipate the 2025 Minnesota Award
The application period for the 2024 Peter Capell Award is now closed. Looking ahead, the award will celebrate a leader from Minnesota in 2025, with applications opening in the summer of 2025.
How to Apply for the Peter Capell Award
The $5,000 Peter Capell Award for Midwestern Creativity & Entrepreneurship is designed to recognize and celebrate individuals in the Midwest creative sector who embody entrepreneurial thinking and strong business acumen within their creative endeavors. While the 2024 application deadline for Iowa candidates has passed (September 16, 2024), prospective applicants from future eligible states can learn about the general criteria and application process.
*It’s important to note that the award comprises a $2,500 unrestricted cash award from Arts Midwest and a matching $2,500 grant award from the respective state arts council, totaling $5,000.
Purpose of the Peter Capell Award
The core purpose of the Peter Capell Award is to spotlight Midwesterners who effectively integrate entrepreneurial thinking and business skills into their creative work. Over the award’s nine-year cycle, it will recognize one individual from each of Arts Midwest’s nine member states. Previous recipients include Tyrone Phillips from Illinois in 2022 and Brenda DeVita from Wisconsin in 2023, setting a high standard for future awardees.
Candidates for the Peter Capell Award must be actively involved in creative or cultural programming and demonstrate entrepreneurial thinking and business acumen in their efforts to broaden access to arts and creativity within their communities. Key characteristics and examples sought in nominees include:
- Identifying and implementing innovative solutions to address existing challenges or problems within the creative sector.
- Demonstrating a strong drive to pursue new opportunities that contribute to organizational growth and success.
- Establishing and nurturing cross-sector partnerships that promote creativity and community development.
- Leading projects, initiatives, and demonstrating leadership that generates significant community impact and aligns with Arts Midwest’s fundamental values.
- Championing projects, actions, and leadership that serve marginalized communities and populations who have historically faced unequal access to resources, actively working to dismantle barriers to access for underrepresented and/or under-resourced groups.
The following eligibility details are specific to the 2024 award. Updated information for the 2025 award will be released in the summer of 2025.
To be considered eligible for the 2024 Peter Capell Award, individuals were required to:
- Reside and/or work within Iowa or Native Nations sharing the same geographical area, with their primary impact being within that region.
- Be employed in a managerial, directorial, or similar capacity by an organization offering creative or cultural programming. Eligible organizations could be either nonprofit or for-profit.
- Possess a proven track record of engaging in collaborative partnerships and demonstrating collegiality within their professional community.
- Have a minimum of 10 years of professional experience in their respective field.
Arts Midwest actively encourages nominations of creative leaders representing diverse backgrounds and identities, including but not limited to race, ethnicity, nationality, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, appearance, religion, age, geographic location, expertise, education, socioeconomic background, and professional level.
Notably, strong encouragement was given to nominate leaders who identify as Black, Indigenous, Latina/Latino/Latinx, Persons of Color, LGBTQIA+, Persons with Disabilities, Persons whose primary language is not English, and/or those from rural and remote communities.
The following individuals are ineligible for the Peter Capell Award:
- Current Arts Midwest Board and staff members, and their immediate family members.
- Elected officials.
Applications for the Peter Capell Award were accepted through Arts Midwest’s grants portal system, SmartSimple. Alternative application methods could be arranged with advance notice for accessibility needs. Accessibility requests could be submitted here.
Nominations could be submitted by anyone meeting the eligibility criteria, and self-nominations were welcomed. The application deadline for the 2024 award was September 16, 2024.
Applicants were asked to provide:
- Answers to eligibility verification questions.
- Optional demographic information.
- A narrative statement (500 words or less) explaining why the applicant/nominee is an exceptional candidate for the Peter Capell Award, focusing on their Entrepreneurial Thinking, Creative Accomplishments, and Community Commitment.
- Supporting documentation: One file showcasing the applicant/nominee’s Entrepreneurial Thinking, Creative Accomplishments, and Community Commitment. This could be a two-page document (press releases, media articles, brochures, resumes, portfolios) OR an audio or video file (maximum 5 minutes).
Applications and nominations were submitted via the following URL: https://artsmidwest.us-1.smartsimple.com/. First-time users were required to register in the Individuals category, with a video walkthrough available for registration assistance.
The subsequent information pertains to the 2024 award review process. Details for the 2025 review process will be shared in summer 2025.
Arts Midwest staff reviewed nominations for eligibility and recommended finalists to a committee of Arts Midwest Board members. This committee then recommended a winner to Peter Capell for his final approval, ensuring his direct involvement in the selection process that bears his name.
Staff and board members utilized the following review criteria to evaluate nominations:
- Entrepreneurial thinking: Does the applicant/nominee demonstrate entrepreneurial thinking, business acumen, and innovation in their work and achievements?
- Creative accomplishments: Does the applicant/nominee’s work showcase significant accomplishments in creativity, arts, and/or cultural programming? Have their projects and/or leadership demonstrated strong community impact and alignment with Arts Midwest’s core values of equity, integrity, and learning?
- Community commitment: Does the applicant/nominee demonstrate a commitment to their community through equitable practices that enhance access to arts, creativity, and/or cultural programming for under-resourced communities? Have they cultivated cross-sector partnerships that advance creativity and build stronger communities?
Arts Midwest staff notified the 2024 award recipient in October 2024. The award included a $2,500 unrestricted cash award from Arts Midwest and a matching $2,500 grant award from the Iowa Arts Council.
- Key Dates for the 2024 Award Cycle:
- August 19, 2024: Nominations Opened
- September 16, 2024: Nominations Closed
- September-October 2024: Staff and Board Review Process
- Late October 2024: Award Recipient Announced
- Summer 2025: Nominations Open for the Minnesota Award
Apply for Future Peter Capell Awards
Applications are managed through the SmartSimple grants portal system.
Two individuals collaboratively painting a vibrant mural on a blue wall, showcasing community art and creative expression.
Peter Capell Award: Stories and Updates
Questions About the Peter Capell Award?
For any inquiries regarding the Peter Capell Award for Midwestern Creativity & Entrepreneurship, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
