PURPOSE OF THE ART AWARDS:
The Annual Arts Council Awards were established in 1969 to recognize and honor those businesses, foundations and individuals who have displayed consistent and exemplary support of the arts and humanities in Wichita and Sedgwick County. These awards focus attention on the importance of the arts as they relate to the quality of life in our community and honor those who have made major creative achievements or significant contributions to cultural growth or development. Approximately 200 people have attended our Annual Art Awards event for the past several years. A link to a list of past recipients is located above.
CATEGORIES:
Gordon W. Evans Award (Given by the Arts Council) – Given to a patron demonstrating outstanding leadership and special support for the arts. This award is presented at the discretion of the Arts Council.
Arts Organization – Given to a public, not-for-profit organization that presents or provides arts opportunities to the Wichita community and region.
Special Project – Given to a neighborhood, business, corporation or group that has provided support for a single event or project.
Arts Educator – Given to an individual who has devoted a career to teaching the arts in an educational environment.
Arts Advocate/Individual – Given to an individual or couple dedicated to furthering the cause of an art form or the arts in general through promotional, volunteer, administrative, legislative or professional efforts.
Arts Advocate/Group – An organization dedicated to furthering the cause of an art form or the arts in general through promotional, volunteer, administrative, legislative or professional efforts.
Individual Artist – Given to an artist actively working in such categories as Choreography, Music Composition, Film/Video, Theatre, Interdisciplinary/ Performance Art, Two-Dimensional Visual Art and/or Three-Dimensional Visual Art, who has shown outstanding achievement.
Youth Recognition Award – Given to a high school and/or middle school student who has shown outstanding achievement and development in the arts.
Business Award – Given to a business or foundation providing broad-based and continued support of the arts through its operation or other foundation funds.
Burton Pell Award – A new award created in memory of Mr. Pell a long time member and past president of the Arts Council. It will be given to an outstanding individual in music.
ELIGIBILITY: Any individual, business, organization or institution currently residing in Wichita or the surrounding area involved in arts and cultural activities located in the area at the time of nomination is eligible to be nominated.
INELIGIBILITY: Ineligibility includes any self-nominations, posthumous nominations and previous Arts Award winners. If needed, the Arts Council will make decisions on any unusual circumstances that might occur after the nomination committee has met.
NOMINATIONS: Nominations are accepted from Kansas citizens and organizations seeking to recognize individual artists, art educators, advocates, organizations, individual patrons, and patron organizations. Nominations may be submitted with or without the knowledge of the nominee.
SELECTION: Award recipients will be chosen from among the nominees by the nomination committee, which will include members of the Arts Council. At the discretion of the panel, selections may include more than one award in a category. Conversely, the panel may decide not to give an award in every category if the total ranking does not merit an award.
SELECTION CRITERIA: The criteria the panel will use to rank & select awards will be:
- Significance and magnitude of the creative achievement
- Length of time and intensity of activity dedicated to the arts.
- Leadership that stimulates growth, support and/or availability of the arts
- Contributions to excellence in the arts.
FURTHER ASSISTANCE: For further assistance or information in preparing this form, contact Bernadette Bradshaw, (316) 303-8600 or bbradshaw@wichita.gov.