• emerging artists in the performing arts,
  
• emerging artists in the visual arts, and
  
• individuals who have made outstanding contributions to arts in the community through education, organization and advocacy.

The 2008 award focused on emerging artists in the performing arts.  Artists are nominated and selected by two separate panels of anonymous experts familiar with the local arts scene. 


Brendan Guy Murphy Wins 2008 Award
Brendan Guy Murphy has been selected as the recipient of the 2008 Buffalo Exchange Arts Award.  Mr. Murphy is a talented local actor with ten years of teaching, performing and directing film, theatre and comedy improvisation.  He recently founded his own film production company, Murphy Speaking^TM Films, LLC, which is currently producing its third film. 

"Brendan is making films which are imaginative and inventive, creating opportunities for many Tucson actors and production personnel," says Cynthia Meier, one of the award selection committee judges. "Instead of leaving town to join a corps of actors and filmmakers in Los Angeles or New York, Brenden is attempting to create art here in Tucson, the place where he grew up."



About Buffalo Exchange
Buffalo Exchange is a unique store where clothing and accessories are bought, sold and traded directly with store customers. Buffalo Exchange is a sustainable company that works to protect the environment by reusing and recycling clothing. The company donates to local nonprofit agencies in the community through its Tokens for Bags^® program, which has generated over $300,000 for hundreds of nonprofits since 1994, saving 6 million bags. Shoppers are encouraged to accept a token instead of a bag for purchases, and Buffalo Exchange donates five cents to a charity of the customer's choice. The resale clothing chain celebrates 35 years of business in January 2009.  Buffalo Exchange has 34 stores and two franchises in 13 states, with $55.8 million a year in sales. Buffalo Exchange is located in Tucson at 2001 E Speedway and 6170 E Speedway. See www.buffaloexchange.com for more.