The home of the Lux Art Institute in Encinitas may be a few months away from construction, but that hasn’t stopped the North County venue for contemporary art from earning an unusually high number of awards in the Annual American Association of Museums Design Competition. The Lux garnered first-place prizes in three categories for museums with budgets of less than $500,000: best newsletter, best event invitation (Lux After Dark) and best fund-raising/membership materials. All of the entries were designed by John Ball of Mires, a founding board member who does work for the museum pro bono.

“We are blessed to have his participation and vision,” said Lux Institute director Reesey Shaw, “in order to help people envision something that isn’t there yet.”

This year, the Lux was the only local winner from among 900 entries.

The Lux oversees an innovative education program it calls The Valise Project, for which commissioned noted artists create works in the form of a suitcase that become the basis of elementary school sessions. Once its home is completed in mid-2006, the Lux plans extended residencies for artists that will evolve into exhibitions.