Springfield Area Arts Council

MAYOR’S AWARDS FOR THE ARTS

AWARD CEREMONY

Artfully You written over paint brush strokes.

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 2024 Mayor’s Awards for the Arts Award Ceremony took place on November 2, 2024, at The Inn at 835. Attendees celebrated the best in our local arts community, featuring a live performance by Copper Coin Ballet Company, a keynote address from Mayor’s Award-Winning Literary Artist Shatriya Smith, and the presentation of this year’s awards. Attendance supports the Springfield Area Arts Council and its mission to promote and sustain the arts in Sangamon and Menard counties.

The dress code: Black Tie—with a creative edge! Think classic elegance meets imaginative expression. We encourage you to bring out your inner artist and let your style tell a story. This is your night to shine—make your outfit Artfully You!

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Saturday

November 2, 2024

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Inn at 835

835 S 2nd St, Springfield, IL

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Cocktail Reception: 1:30 P.M.

Ceremony: 2 P.M.

SPONSORSHIP LEVELS

ARTISTIC VISIONARY

$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.

CREATIVE CATALYST

$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. 

CULTURAL CURATOR

$250

Invitation to exclusive pre-party.

Logo inclusion on website. 

Recognition in the event program. 

Mention during the event’s opening remarks. 

ARTISTRY BENEFACTOR

$100

Invitation to exclusive pre-party.

Logo inclusion on website.

Name listed in event program.

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS

ARTISTIC VISIONARY

CREATIVE CATALYST

Craig Russo Music

Inn at 835 Boutique Hotel Catering and Events logo

CULTURAL CURATOR

Thomas Plumbing Est. 2010 Logo
Copper Coin Ballet Company

ARTISTRY BENEFACTOR

Corrine Hinton

Allison Lacher & Nathan Steele

Penny Wollan-Kriel

Skinner, Copper & Ehmen Wealth Management LLC Logo
Illinois Symphony Orchestra

NOMINATIONS

NOMINATIONS CLOSED
 
The Springfield Area Arts Council in partnership with the City of Springfield invites you to nominate an individual or business for the 2024 Mayor’s Awards for the Arts. These awards recognize outstanding talent in and dedication to the arts in Sangamon and Menard counties. The eight award categories include Individual Visual Artist, Individual Performing Artist, Individual Literary Artist, Arts Organization, Arts Volunteer, Arts Educator, Exceptional Arts Student, and Business Committed to the Arts.
 
Please complete the nomination form in its entirety and return it as a PDF to director@springfieldartsco.org or to the Springfield Area Arts Council, 420 South Sixth Street, Springfield, Illinois 62701.
Nominations must be received no later than 5:00 p.m., Monday, September 30, 2024.
 
• There is no limit to the number of nominations that may be submitted. Use a separate form for each.
• There is no fee to nominate.
• Nominations can be submitted for previous nominees who have not been award recipients.
• Self-nominations or nominations by family members are not allowed. Members of the selection committee, the Springfield Area Arts Council board of directors, staff, and their immediate families, as well as previous Mayor’s Awards for the Arts winners, are not eligible for nomination.

What Does It Take To Nominate?

Along with a completed nomination form, you must submit a typed narrative, two-page maximum, supporting your nominee for the 2024 Mayor’s Award for the Arts is required. Hand-written nominations will not be accepted. The following criteria will be used to evaluate nominees. Not all criteria will apply to every category.
 
Artistic Merit: Indicate the artistic medium of the nominee and describe the quality of the nominee’s work in the discipline. Please list awards or achievements on a third page.
 
Longevity of Service: How long has the nominee served Sangamon or Menard counties? In what capacity – volunteer, staff, board, educator, etc.? And with which organizations, schools, boards, festivals, etc. has the nominee served?
 
Impact of Work: What impact has the work or service of the nominee had on the community?
 
Breadth of Work: What projects or causes have been served by the nominee’s involvement and how many people have been served through the work of the nominee?
 
Letters of support, résumé, newspaper reviews, performance and \ or exhibit programs, etc. may be submitted but are not required. Three pieces maximum.

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.

2024 WINNERS

A group of people posing with awards in front of a black backdrop with fall leaves hanging down.
Photo by William Richards Photography.
From left to right: 
Sarah Thomas, award-designing artist; Mary Kate Smith, Arts Educator; Toni Lowenthall – owner of Perspectives Art Gallery, Business Supportive of the Arts; John Paul Jaramillo, Literary Artist; Robert Mazrim, Visual Artist; Timothy Crawford, Performing Artist; Jennifer Bettis, Arts Volunteer; Gus Gordon – Executive Director of Hoogland Center for the Arts, Arts Organization; Alderwoman Erin Conley, City of Springfield.
 
Not Photographed:
Cicely Flynn, Exceptional Arts Student; Austin Wells, Special Recognition.

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 WINNERS

A group of people posing with awards.
Photo by Jeremy Bailey.

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 WINNERS

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