‘Arts 4 Peace Awards 2016’ Announced Amidst Hollywood Attendees

EDISON, NJ (TIP): Arts for Peace Awards Organization launched the Arts 4 Peace Awards 2016 on Tuesday, January 5th, 2016 hosted by the Edison Hotel in Edison, NJ.

Arts 4 Peace Awards  are the first ever collective celebration of the arts of every culture around the world. The purpose of these awards is to demonstrate to each nation how vitally important their culture is to the whole fabric of our world. Despite diversity & different cultures, it is through art that we can experience these cultures as one person with one creative mind and heart.

Arts 4 Peace Awards’ vision is to provide opportunities to artists of all ages  spanning seven continents, who will be sponsored locally and celebrated globally.

The awards have been created by Ms. Munni Irone of Beverly Hills. Known as the Beverly Hills Queen, Munni is the founder & president of the Awards. It is Ms. Munni’s desire to create a world that works for everyone with no one left behind. “Art is the way that we can experience the oneness between us all,” said Ms. Irone. “I believe these awards will not only serve to lift up these wonderful artists and their cultures, but collectively this will lift the cooperation between all nations”, she added.

This historic global peace movement will launch in India in March 2016, with the lighting of the Arts for Peace Torch. As in the Olympic tradition, the flames from the torch will then light up the world as the awards ceremonies will take place over the following three months in each of the seven continents.

The finalists from all the participating countries of each continent will compete for their finalist positions for their continent. These elite finalists will have the honor to compete at the grand culminating event in Hollywood in November 2016. These distinguished winners will be top artists in each of the categories from around the world. The winners will receive cash prizes and scholarships and be invited as dignitaries and judges for the finale.

The awards will be given for master works that best represent a message of peace  in the following categories: Dance, Music, Sculpture, Painting, Film, Martial Arts and Culinary Art. Each category will have separate divisions for entry nominated by someone or submitted directly by the artist.

The kickoff party took place with peace ambassadors from various countries & ethnic backgrounds in attendance, including several celebrities from Hollywood and other International platforms. Among the International ambassadors who attended were Dawn Diaz, Karen Hoyos, Jackie Melikian, Mark Geroux, Javid Pymani, Tehrah Taylor, Pepper Jay, Rebecca Holden, Joel Diamond, Ewart Chin, Rosalyn Kahn, Keith Mitchell, Anna Radoyce ‘Chef Anina’, Carmelita Pittman, Helene Abrams, David Giller, James Pasqual Bettio, Richard Anteau, David Young, Carol Froehlich-Hull, Jaweria Khan and several others.

The event kicked off by a welcome address by Nutan Kalamdani who is the Global Media Ambassador for the Awards & Niti Sunder who is the Chief Global Coordinator. Niti Sunder has been working on the project since last year, when the project was announced. She spoke briefly and addressed the guests.

This was followed by a sensational performance by Singer & Actress Rebecca Holden, who was introduced by her husband the renowned Music Producer Joel Diamond. One may recall seeing Rebecca in the famous series Knight Rider, ABC’s General Hospital, Remington Steele, Three’s Company, Taxi, and many more.

Aarti Sunder addressed the gathering briefly, which was followed by an impromptu dance performance by 2 young artists. Aarti Sunder & Nisha Kalamdani have been nominated as the Youth Ambassadors for the Arts 4 Peace Awards.

Mukesh Kashiwala the Vice President for the Awards welcomed all the distinguished guests and gave a brief about the awards. He also expressed his thanks to the sponsors, media and other supporters. Several dignitaries & media members including Upendra Chivukula, Dr. Sudanshu Prasad, Dr. Sinha and Sunil Hali conveyed their wishes and support to the team. The India launch of Arts 4 Peace Awards will be supported by Trans Media Awards, Rashmi Kamdar, Dr Navin Mehta, Piyush Patel, Pradip Vakil & Pranav Amin, all of whom have offered their generous support to this prestigious project. Mr Kashiwala and his team are currently working on the infrastructure for the Arts 4 Peace Awards. They plan to add more categories in the future and involve more youth in the project.

Munni Irone also expressed her gratitude to all the ambassadors present at the launch. She further spoke of her vision for these awards and how she wishes for them to be as big as the Oscars, if not bigger, with all nations coming together on a single platform to promote peace in the world through arts. She also answered few questions from the media.

The evening continued with motivational speeches from Dawn Diaz, Karen Hoyos, both of who are celebrity life coaches. The highlight of the evening was electrifying performances by Grammy Nominee Tehrah Taylor whose ‘Phoenix Rising’ enthralled the guests & won the hearts of each & every one present.

Others who performed were opera singer Carol Froehlich-Hull, award winning artist Carmelita Pittman, Songwriter Shane & Grammy Nominee David Young.

It was the first time ever in New Jersey that such an elite group of extraordinary talent from Hollywood & various other places, came under one roof. It was a long night before the curtains were drawn, but every guest left with a smile on their face and wanting for more.