Arts Prizes

Bass Player Devon Gates 23 Photo by Adam Kissick/Office for the Arts at Harvard

Meet the 2023 Arts Prize recipients!

Annual Arts Prize nominations for undergraduates may be submitted by faculty, administrators and staff. The OFA manages solicitation of nominations during the fall semester and award notice is provided during late spring semester. Determination is made by the Council on the Arts. Please contact Stephanie Troisi with questions.

Council Prize in Visual Art

Recognizes outstanding work by a Harvard undergraduate in the field of visual arts, which includes but is not limited to painting, drawing, sculpture, installation, film and video.

Louise Donovan Award (Behind the Scenes/"unsung hero")

Recognizes a Harvard student who worked behind the scenes in the arts, for example, as director, producer or accompanist, contributing most to the success of a production and the opportunity for others to shine. The award is given in honor of Louise Donovan who, through her distinguished career at Radcliffe College, was a role model of unselfish, effective support for the College.

Suzanne Farrell Dance Prize

Named for the acclaimed dancer and former ballerina of the New York City Ballet, the prize recognizes a Harvard undergraduate who has demonstrated outstanding artistry in the field of dance.

Radcliffe Doris Cohen Levi Prize (Musical Theater)

Recognizes the Harvard undergraduate who combines talent and energy with outstanding enthusiasm for musical theater at Harvard. The prize honors the memory of Doris Cohen Levi '35 and is conferred upon a student who has made a consistent contribution of high quality to the production or performance of musical comedy, opera, dance and all other forms of theater which combine music and theatrical performance at Harvard.

The Robert E. Levi Prize

Recognizes a Harvard College senior who has demonstrated outstanding arts management skills over the course of an undergraduate career. The recipient’s dedication, organizational talent and creative problem-solving, as well as ability to nurture artistry, have been critical factors in the success of one or more arts organizations and/or projects. The award honors the memory of Robert E. Levi, Harvard College class of 1933 and Harvard Business School, MBA, 1935. 

Robert Levin Prize in Musical Performance

This prize has been established to recognize an extraordinarily gifted undergraduate musician, preferably of the senior class. The award honors Robert Levin ’68, Professor Emeritus and former Dwight P. Robinson Jr. Professor of the Department of Music at Harvard University.

Jonathan Levy Award (Acting)

Recognizes a Harvard undergraduate as the most promising actor at the University.

Louis Sudler Prize in the Arts 

Recognizes the senior with the most outstanding artistic talent and achievement in the composition or performance of film, music, drama, dance or visual arts. The prize is intended to honor the sum of the student's activities rather than a single project.

The Alan Symonds Award

(Presented by the Harvard-Radcliffe Gilbert & Sullivan Players in cooperation with the Office for the Arts at Harvard)

Recognizes a Harvard student active in the technical or production aspects of theater, particularly one who has devoted their time and energies to work in a variety of spaces such as the Agassiz Theatre, drama space in houses and nontraditional theater spaces across the campus. The award is further intended for an individual who has acted as a teacher and mentor to students new to technical theater, helping others grow and learn. The award is given in honor of Alan Symonds, Harvard alumnus and former Technical Director for Harvard College Theatre, a designer, technician and mentor who worked tirelessly to improve Harvard theater in practice and performance. This award is student nominated. Final selection is made by a committee of theater administrators and OFA staff members.