MAYOR’S AWARDS FOR THE ARTS
The Mayor’s Awards for the Arts recognize outstanding talent and dedication to the arts in Sangamon and Menard Counties, the area served by the Springfield Area Arts Council. Mayor Misty Buscher and the Springfield Area Arts Council invite citizens in these counties to participate in this celebration of support for the arts in our communities.
The award ceremony on November 18, 2026 will celebrate the best in our local arts community. Attendance supports the Springfield Area Arts Council and its mission to promote and sustain the arts in Sangamon and Menard counties.
CALL FOR ARTISTS
Interested in designing this year’s awards? Submit your proposal to be considered! You will join a prestigious list of artists who have created unique awards for the past 4 decades.
2026 EVENT SPONSORSHIPS
MOTHER ROAD
PRESENTING SPONSOR
$1,000
Invitation to exclusive pre-party.
Recognition on marketing materials, website, and social media.
Recognition in the event program.
Mention during the awards ceremony.
Special acknowledgment in the event slideshow.
Recognition in a post-event thank-you message.
Eight complimentary tickets.
ROUTE 66
PARTNER
$500
Invitation to exclusive pre-party.
Logo inclusion on website and social media.
Recognition in the event program.
Mention during award ceremony.
Special acknowledgment in the event slideshow.
Six complimentary tickets.
MAIN STREET
SUPPORTER
$250
Invitation to exclusive pre-party.
Logo inclusion on website.
Recognition in the event program.
Mention during the event’s opening remarks.
Five complimentary tickets.
ROADSIDE
BOOSTER
$120
Invitation to exclusive pre-party.
Logo inclusion on website.
Name listed in event program.
Four complimentary tickets.
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS
MUNICIPAL
PRESENTING SPONSOR
MOTHER ROAD
PRESENTING SPONSOR
ROUTE 66
PARTNERS
MAIN STREET
SUPPORTERS
ROADSIDE
BOOSTERS
Joshua Amos Graff
Tom and Jodi Dart
Jim Kontio
NOMINATIONS
What Does It Take To Nominate?
CATEGORIES
Individual Artist – Visual Artist: A living artist, residing in Sangamon or Menard County, who has produced a significant body of work in his/her artistic discipline in the field of visual arts and who has contributed to the arts in our area.
Individual Artist – Performing Artist: A living artist, residing in Sangamon or Menard County, who has produced a significant body of work in his/her artistic discipline in the field of performing arts and who has contributed to the arts in our area; includes music, theater, dance.
Individual Artist – Literary Artist: A living artist, residing in Sangamon or Menard County, who has produced a significant body of work in his/her artistic discipline in the field of poetry or prose, fiction or non-fiction and who has contributed to the arts in our area.
Arts Organization: A nonprofit organization that has made a substantial impact on the cultural development of this area as demonstrated through exceptional artistic achievement and outstanding programming.
Business Supportive of the Arts: A local business that has demonstrated a significant commitment to the arts, recognizing the imperative role of public / private partnerships. This commitment may be in the form of financial, personnel, and/or resources support.
Arts Volunteer: A volunteer who consistently supports the arts through a commitment of personal time, energy, and devotion.
Arts Educator: An individual who has made a significant contribution to kindergarten through twelfth grade arts education, as a teacher, mentor, or catalyst who educates children through the arts.
Exceptional Arts Student: A high school or college student, residing in Sangamon or Menard County, who has demonstrated exceptional talent as a visual, performing, or literary artist and who has made a significant contribution to the arts community.
2026 NOMINEES
Meet the people and organizations behind this year’s nominations and learn more about the work that earned them recognition in our 2026 Mayor’s Awards for the Arts nominee spotlight. MEET THE NOMINEES
Individual Artist – Visual Artist:
al strider
Jeff Curtis Williams
Julie Brown
Leslie Stalter
Individual Artist – Performing Artist:
Ben Bedford
David M. Briggs
Ezra Casey
Mahogany Knight
Mary Young
Reggie Guyton
Tom Irwin
Individual Artist – Literary Artist:
Joshua Amos Graff
Ted Morrissey
Arts Organization:
Garvey Tubman Cultural Arts and Research Center
Springfield Choral Society
Springfield Cultural Arts Foundation
Voices of Love Joy and Peace
Business Supportive of the Arts:
Conn Hospitality
Horace Mann
Isringhausen
Mid Illinois Group at Morgan Stanley
PNC
Arts Volunteer:
Cindy Wall
Jim Kontio
Arts Educator:
Brandt Sitze
Craig Williams II
Mary Ellen Strack
Exceptional Arts Student:
A’santianna Austin
Gabi Dart
Isabella Wiesenmeyer
Natasha O’Brien
2024 AWARDEES
Individual Artist – Visual Artist: Robert Mazrim
Individual Artist – Performing Artist: Tim Crawford
Individual Artist – Literary Artist: John Paul Jaramillo
Arts Organization: Hoogland Center for the Arts
Business Supportive of the Arts: Perspectives Art Gallery
Arts Volunteer: Jennifer Bettis
Arts Educator: Mary Kate Smith
Exceptional Arts Student: Cicely Flynn
Special Recognition: Austin Wells
2022 AWARDEES
Individual Artist – Visual Artist: Tracey Maras
Individual Artist – Performing Artist: Kathryn Harris
Individual Artist – Literary Artist: Shatriya Smith
Arts Organization: Menard County Singers
Business Supportive of the Arts: Whimsy Tea Company
Arts Volunteer: Jean Follin
Arts Educator: Matthew Vala
Exceptional Arts Student: Cooper Coker
Special Recognition: Fletcher (Bud) Farrar, Jr.
MAYOR’S AWARDS FOR THE ARTS AWARDEES
INDIVIDUAL ARTIST
Kenneth E. Barton, Sr. *
Tim Crawford
William Crook, Jr.
Karen Lynne Deal
Michael Dunbar
Jim Edwards *
Jessie Mae Finley *
Deanna Funk
Doug Hahn
Kathryn Harris
Jane Hartman
Joe Hennessy *
John Paul Jaramillo
Shannon Keith Kelley
Kenneth Kiesler
John Knoepfle *
Peter Lynch *
Jack Madura
Tracey Maras
Robert Mazrim
Henry Miles *
Grace Luttrell Nanavati
Johnnie Owens
Sheri Ramsey
Helen E. Rilling *
Shatriya Smith
ARTS ORGANIZATION
Active and Creative Teen Theatre
Bells in Motion
Downtown Springfield, Inc.
Design Committee
Eastside Theater **
Great American People Show **
Hoogland Center for the Arts
Illinois Central Blues Club
Lincoln’s New Salem State
Historic Site
Liturgical Arts Festival of Springfield
Menard County Singers
Old Capitol Art Fair
Prairie Art Alliance **
Sangamon Valley Youth Symphony **
Springfield Art Association
Springfield Ballet Company **
Springfield Community Concert Association **
Springfield Muni Opera
Springfield Municipal Band
Springfield Symphony Orchestra **
Springfield Theatre Centre
BUSINESS SUPPORTIVE OF THE ARTS
Bank One **
Bekins: Springfield Van and Storage Co.
Central Illinois Light Company **
Family Video **
First of America Bank **
First National Bank of Springfield **
FloraScape **
Gateway Foundation, Springfield Center
IBM Corporation
Illinois National Bank
Magna Bank**
Persian Rug Center
Perspectives Art Gallery**
Robbie’s **
Trout Lily Cafe **
UMedia
United Community Bank
Watts Copy Systems
Whimsy Tea Company
WICS-TV
WSEC-TV
ARTS EDUCATOR
Joan Burmeister
John T. Crisp, Jr. *
Kathy Elmore
Martha Kichinko
Priscilla Kluge
Elizabeth Marcy
Linda Post-Lucas
Wanda Riseman *
Mary Kate Smith
Marianne Stremsterfer
Matthew Vala
Roberta Volkmann
EXCEPTIONAL ARTS STUDENT
Tania Brodsky
Cooper Coker
Maggie Day
Cicely Flynn
Richard Kohlrus
Casey Sheehan
ARTS VOLUNTEER
Patricia Anderson *
Jennifer Bettis
Elaine Birtch
Théa Chesley
Julie Edwards *
Phyllis Eubanks
Jean Follin
Jim Allan Huston
Debi Iams
George King
Mary McDonald
James Murray *
Paul Presney, Jr.
Polly Roesch *
Gene Rubley *
Molly Schlich *
Devera Victor *
Roanna Victor
Bonnie Wabner *
Carole and Don Walton
SPECIAL RECOGNITION
Margaret Boswell
Rosemary Buffington
Fletcher Farrar, Jr.
Hazen* and Roland Folse
Charles and Kathleen
Bernadette Nolan
Prairie House **
Security Federal Savings and Loan **
UIS Performing Arts Center: Sangamon Auditorium
Austin Wells
Linda Younkin
* Deceased
** No longer in business