On January 12, 2009, up to ten of the world's most gifted young designers convened in New York for The Earth Awards, a global search for products and concepts that are sustainable, novel and - for many - essential to improving basic quality of life.
The evening concluded with a significant cash prize for the best new design, presented before an audience of environmentalists, venture capitalists, sustainable designers and the media. The winner will have an opportunity to meet with key audience members, who will advise them on how to develop their innovation further.
Throughout 2008, the Earth Awards solicited submissions from designers' worldwide, covering disciplines as varied as industrial design, architecture, fashion, agriculture and alternative energy. Each design or concept was judged by its potential to sustain the planet and the people who live upon it. The Awards sought out nascent designers whose work is not commercially available, giving them an opportunity to have their ideas critiqued by leaders in the fields of environmental design and policy.
At the New York event, to be held at The Four Seasons Restaurant, the designs from all ten finalists will be presented to the audience. In a new initiative, business leaders and venture capitalists will have the opportunity to bid via auction to commercially develop the ideas presented, with the proceeds being directed into the projects' initial research and development. As a result, The Earth Awards will not only recognize innovative and sustainable ideas, but also hopes to generate significant commercial opportunities for the designers who submitted their work.
The Earth Awards are an initiative of the ecoStyle Project established in 2007 by the Malaysian Government. The event is jointly produced by NYC Inc., kontentreal, and IMG Fashion, and underwritten by Tourism Malaysia. As a country, Malaysia is at the forefront of environmental sustainability and their support of The Earth Awards underpins the Government's focus on environmental sustainability in its national policy and development plans. Past initiatives of ecoStyle have seen various environment projects established in Kuala Lumpur and it is hoped that in the future, The Earth Awards will be hosted in other major cities around the world that are equally as passionate about a sustainable life on planet Earth.
The Earth Awards will be presented by the Royal Prince of Malaysia, H.R.H Tunku Naquiyuddin ibni Tuanku Ja"afar Regent of Negri Sembilan. Media personality and environmental supporter Charlie Rose will be the Master of Ceremonies with performances from
Martha Clarke's critically acclaimed Garden of Earthly Delights playing at the Minetta Lane Theatre through March 1, 2009.
Garden of Earthly Delights plays the following schedule at the Minetta Lane Theatre (18 Minetta Lane): Tuesday at 7pm, Wednesday - Friday at 8pm, Saturday at 3pm and 8pm, and Sunday at 3pm and 7pm. Tickets are $40.00 - $69.50 and may be purchased by visiting Ticketmaster.com or phoning 212 307-4100. Premium seats are available for $110.00; Same day rush tickets are available at the box office for $30.00. For more information, visit
www.GardenOfEarthlyDelightsNYC.com.
Photo of Martha Clarke's "Garden of Earthly Delights" by Richard Finkelstein (copyright 2008)
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