NEW! Prelude Finalists
Congratulations to Prelude Awards Finalists. All Finalists will be recognized at an Awards Celebration at the Childrens Museum of Indianapolis on March 19. Click here to see the names of the 2010 Finalists.

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2010 Prelude Awards
The Indiana Association of School Principals is excited to announce the transition of the Prelude Awards to our Department of Student Programs from the Children's Museum of Indianapolis. In the first year of the transition, IASP will expand the Prelude Awards to reach teachers and students in the nine county Metropolitan Indianapolis area (Boone, Hamilton, Hancock, Hendricks, Johnson, Madison, Marion, Morgan, & Shelby Counties). The official press release announcing the transition is at the bottom of this page. The 2010 Prelude Awards will begin a new tradition of celebrating the creative spirit of Indiana's students. The Four Competition Categories will be:
Visual Art
Video and Film
Vocal Music Composition (for solo voice in the 2010 competition)
Instrumental Music Composition (for instrumental ensembles in the 2010 competition)

Prelude Awards Intent To Participate Form
Click here for detailed information on the four competition categories and the Intent To Participate form. (requires Adobe Reader)

2010 Prelude Timeline
December 11, 2009: Intent to Participate Forms due to IASP Office
January 9, 2010: Visual Arts entries judging at The Children’s Museum. Video and Film, Vocal Music Composition, and Instrumental Music Composition entry submission deadline.
March 19, 2010: Awards Celebration at the Children's Museum of Indianapolis

The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis and the Indiana Association of School Principals (IASP) announce the expansion and transition of the Prelude Awards from Marion County to serving the entire state of Indiana under the leadership of the Indiana School Principals. The Prelude Awards is a dynamic and comprehensive program developed in 1984 to provide youth with opportunities to learn and compete in the areas such as music, video/film, and visual arts. The Indiana Association of School Principals leads in the advocacy and support of all principals in their commitment to every child. Dr. Jeffrey H. Patchen, president and CEO of The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis said, “After assessing its programming and core mission, The Children’s Museum has determined that the vision of expanding the Prelude Awards beyond Marion County would be best fulfilled by IASP. They have the experience, resources and a history of excellence in providing statewide academic competitions for students.” Effective August 10, 2009, the administrative responsibility for the awards program transitioned to IASP. The awards celebration will be held at The Children’s Museum.

Bradford B. Venable, Ph.D., president of the Art Education Association of Indiana said “The Prelude Awards, which has been a tremendous platform for encouraging and showcasing artistic talent for young people in Marion County, will have an even greater impact as it transitions to a program that encompasses our entire state. Under the administration of the Indiana Association of School Principals, this initiative will reach significantly more young people and carry the message forward that the arts are crucial to a child’s development and education.”

“The Indiana Music Educators Association also holds composition competitions and understands their importance. No one needs to limit opportunities for creative students! IMEA hopes that the Prelude Awards competition is successful in every way,” said Barbara Resch President, Indiana Music Educators Association.

The Indiana Association of School Principals provides leadership to principals at all levels across the State of Indiana. The Prelude Awards will become part of their unique inter-scholastic academic competition program that allows Indiana students an opportunity to compete in academics similar to the way they compete in athletics.

Academic competitions encourage academic achievement by honoring intellectual achievement and celebrating scholarship. “Under the facilitation of the IASP, Prelude will begin a new tradition of celebrating the creative spirit of originality with the students. The new focus will be on original works and compositions created by the participating students in the areas of video/film, music composition and the visual arts,” said Gerald Mohr, executive director of IASP. 

In the first year of the transition, IASP will expand the Prelude Awards to reach teachers and students beyond Marion County to include the nine county Metropolitan Indianapolis area. IASP will gradually expand the program providing students throughout Indiana with an opportunity they’ve never had before, to participate in the prestigious Prelude Awards.

Scholarships are awarded to winners in each of the arts categories and are to be applied to the tuition of the institution of higher-education of their choice. First place winners in all categories will be awarded $1,000 and second place winners in all categories will be awarded $250. Additional scholarships are provided by a number of Indiana colleges and universities.