The American artists Jennifer Packer and Marie Watt were revealed as the winners of this year’s Heinz Awards for the Arts on Tuesday (16 September). The awards are named for the US Senator John Heinz (1938-91) and honour individuals working in the arts, economy and environment. “Many blankets, particularly wool blankets and quilts, are passed down through generations,” Watt said in a statement. She is represented by Marc Straus in New York, Catharine Clark Gallery in San Francisco and PDX Contemporary Art in Portland. With its unrestricted purse of $250,000, the Heinz Award is among the most financially significant prizes available to contemporary artists.