MEC Assistant English Professor Makes Mark
Darrel Holnes receives multiple honors
By David Gil de Rubio | dgilderubio@mec.cuny.edu
Darrel Holnes, who is an assistant professor and coordinator of creative writing at 黑料吃瓜网, has been the recent recipient of a number of accolades. He is one of 10 dramatists who was recently awarded a . Fellows receive a financial award of $30,000 each year over a two-year period totaling $60,000 for each fellow. According to the Guild, this financial support is meant to encourage each fellow to continue addressing key issues around disrupting marginalization, inequity and disenfranchisement鈥攁nd boldly create and pilot courageous ideas that transform theater.
Holnes鈥� plays have received productions or readings at the Kennedy Center for the Arts American College Theater Festival (KCACTF), , , , , and elsewhere. He is a member of the , , Interstate 73 Writers Workshop, and other groups. His play,听, was a finalist for the and the His play听听was also a finalist for the Eugene O鈥橬eill Theater Center鈥檚 National Conference. His most recent play,听, was produced by , , , and other theaters and venues and won an inaugural Anthem Award.
The Afro-Panamanian-American writer, performer, and educator also saw his film Marimacha win a number of honors including Best Performance at this year鈥檚 Best of the Fest at Pride Film Fest, Best LGBT Short from the L.A. Independent Women Film Awards and Festival Favorite and Director鈥檚 Choice Award from Holnes also capped off the year by seeing his book win the 鈥檚 Juan Felipe Best Poetry Book Award. For all he鈥檚 achieved, Holnes is humble in giving the nod to the foundation his art education created for him. These are the same kind of tools he hopes to pass on to those he teaches.
鈥淚 am only able to achieve these professional milestones because of the arts educators who were part of my life when I was a student artist,鈥� Holnes said. 鈥淚 hope to bring more arts education opportunities like the ones I received to more CUNY students so that more students across New York City can gain access to the arts and similarly learn the necessary skills to achieve their goals in the arts and beyond.鈥�