Award Descriptions:

-Thomas Barnes Lifetime Achievement, named after longtime Arts Council board president: This award celebrates the career of an individual artist, organization, individual at an organization, or individual artist who, among other distinctions, has demonstrated particular commitment to his or her work throughout a long career and has made important contributions regionally, nationally or internationally in his/her field, especially at a milestone marker, such as retirement, job change, posthumous recognition, etc.

-Distinguished Artist of the Year: This award honors individual artists in any discipline for their creative excellence and superior accomplishments in 2023.

-Excellence in Arts Education: This award honors an arts educator (one from each county) for their work in providing art instruction that helps to guide the next generation of artists in our region and cultivating lifelong supporters of the arts

-Volunteer of the Year Award: Many of the region’s arts and cultural organizations rely on volunteers to put on the show! This award recognizes the outstanding volunteer (one from each county) efforts of an unpaid individual or group that has had a major impact on the arts and culture sector.

-Program of the Year: This award will honor the achievement, dedication, and creativity of an individual or organization one from each county.