Harlan Ellison Turns Down Cleveland Arts Prize

Posted on May 12, 2009

The Cleveland Plain Dealer has a story about how science fiction author Harlan Ellison was nominated for the local Cleveland Arts Prize but ended up turning it down and calling it a "sham" and a "fraud." Harlan Ellison was upset they would not pay his travel expenses and that he would only be allowed three minutes for his acceptance speech.

Nominated several times over the years for a Cleveland Arts Prize, celebrated author and Cleveland native Harlan Ellison finally was awarded a prize for lifetime achievement this year. But he turned it down.
Ellison objected to having to pay for his and his wife's travel and lodging expenses from their Los Angeles home to Cleveland for the awards event in June.
He also objected to an unsigned letter he received from Cleveland Arts Prize Executive Director Marcie Bergman, which stated he would have only three minutes for his remarks.

The Cleveland Arts Prize Executive Director Marcie Bergman told the Plain Dealer that the nonprofit doesn't have the budget to pay the winning author's travel expenses. It doesn't like a very pleasant situation for anyone involved.