The Knight Foundation named Christopher Norwood one of its 26 Arts Champions in 2022, an award that came with a $10,000 prize.
Norwood, 50, a consultant and founder and curator at Hampton Art Lovers Gallery in Overtown and a longtime Miami Lakes resident, chuckled about being designated one of the elites of the South Florida arts scene.
“It’s good for other people to recognize the work that we do and hopefully that will bring more attention to our work,” Norwood said of the gallery, which he said the cash prize will support. “I humbly accept the accolade."
Norwood is a former member of the Miami Lakes Youth Activities Task Force and founded the Movies in the Park event, which continues to be held in town.
He also volunteered as a youth basketball coach with the Optimist Club.
Norwood has previously curated an art show in Town Hall for Black History Month, and will do so again this month.
Norwood donates his time for such efforts, and says the prize allows him to do that as well as not charge admission at the gallery and produce shows there for community groups.
About Miami Lakes, Norwood said, “I just love the small-town feeling, knowing your neighbor, interactions in the parks … Winding roads and the tree canopy remind me of [New] Jersey, a little bit of home.”