Mayor’s Arts Awards Winners a Strong Representation of Lincoln’s Vibrant Art Scene

Mayor Chris Beutler and the Lincoln Arts Council will present the Mayor’s Arts Awards the evening of Monday, June 7 at the Lied Center for Performing Arts. The awards formally recognize artistic contributions and achievements in the Lincoln area.

Each year the community nominates candidates for the Mayor’s Arts Awards and a panel of professionals chooses the worthy recipients from those nominated. This year there were an exceptional number of nominees and those chosen as winners truly represent the vibrancy and richness of our city’s Art Scene.

From projects like “Reviving Ophelia” that initiated community conversation about body image, sexuality, alcohol, drugs, and parenting daughters, to individuals like Jack Saltzman who has worked for years behind the scenes as a volunteer decorator, and Pace Woods who has been a humble, sincere, and loyal donor to many arts organizations in Lincoln, this year’s group is truly worthy of recognition.

Tickets for the event are $50 and can be purchased through Wednesday, May 26. The event begins at 5:30 p.m. with a reception, and the awards begin at 7 p.m. Checks can be sent to the Lincoln Arts Council, 920 "O" Street, Lincoln, NE 68508. More information is available by calling 434-2787 or on the Lincoln Arts Council Web site at www.artscene.org.

Being honored are the following individuals, organizations and projects:

• For the first time, the ArtScene Backstage Award will honor extraordinary service to the arts through behind the scenes efforts. The winner is Jack Saltzman, a volunteer decorator for many nonprofit organization events and fund-raisers. The award is sponsored by A to Z Printing.
  
  
• The Arts Organization Award will be presented to the Modern Arts Midwest, a private exhibition space for local and Nebraska artists operated by Larry and Judy Roots in the Haymarket. The award recognizes an arts group that has made significant contributions to Lincoln's arts community over a period of years and is sponsored by Runza.
  
  
• The Outstanding Event Award will be presented to the Angels Theatre Company for its production of "Reviving Ophelia," based on the best-selling nonfiction book by Lincoln author Mary Pipher. The award recognizes a performance, exhibition, event or project in the previous year that will be notable in the community memory for years to come and is sponsored by the Letheby Group at RBC Wealth Management.
  
  
• The Artistic Achievement Award - Visual Arts will be presented to fiber artist Sharon Vandenack. The award recognizes excellence and accomplishment in any of the visual arts and is sponsored by Bob and Marilyn Harris.
  
  
• The Artistic Achievement Award - Performing Arts will be presented to James Harris, who wrote and performed in the musical "Civil War Voices" as part of the City's celebration of Abraham Lincoln's 200th birthday. The award recognizes excellence and accomplishment in any of the performing arts and is sponsored by Farmers Mutual Insurance Company of Nebraska.
  
  
• The Artistic Achievement Award - Youth will be presented to visual artist Will Lipinski. The award recognizes excellence and accomplishment in any arts discipline by a young person age 18 or younger and is sponsored by Lucy Buntain Comine in memory of Anne Buntain.
  
  
• The Gladys Lux Education Award will be presented to the Lincoln Community Playhouse Family Theatre. The award recognizes special initiatives in or dedication to arts education and is sponsored by the Gladys Lux Foundation.
  
  
• The Heart of the Arts Award will be presented to arts supporters and folk art collectors Janet and Carl Eskridge. This award recognizes individuals or organizations for outstanding volunteer dedication to the arts or for making a major overall impact on the arts in Lincoln. The award is being sponsored by Talent Plus, Inc.
  
  
• The Halcyon Allsman Benefactor of the Arts Award will be presented to Pace Woods. The award honors an individual, family, organization or business making significant financial contributions to the arts in Lincoln and is sponsored by Wells Fargo.
  
  
• The Oliva Family "Arts for Kids" Award will be presented to the Doug Carper Family for their support of the "Our Garden: Nurturing Creativity, Wellness and Wonder" at Beattie Elementary. The award honors an individual or organization from outside of the arts professions whose leadership has enhanced arts activities and experiences for children. It is sponsored by the Giacomo and Dorothy Oliva Family.
  
  
• The Literary Heritage Award will be presented to NET Radio's "All About Books" program. The award recognizes a writer or an individual or group who promotes excellence in writing and literature in Nebraska and is sponsored by the Nebraska Literary Heritage Association.
  
  
• The Larry Enersen Award, which recognizes outstanding urban design in Lincoln, will be presented to two projects. The Hamann Rose Garden at Antelope Park is being honored as a public project, and the Bank of the West/Lincoln Flats/Barrymore's Alley Project is being honored as a private project. The award is sponsored by Clark EnersenPartners.
  
  
• The Mayor's Choice Award will be presented to UNL Opera supporter Don Burt. The award is sponsored by Cline, Williams, Wright, Johnson and Oldfather, L.L.P.
  
  
• The Kimmel Foundation Award will be presented to Aisha Harrison and Byron Anway. The award recognizes visual artists and includes two-week residencies at the Kimmel Harding Nelson Center for the Arts and a $1,000 stipend.
  
  
• This year's award is being created by fiber artist Robert Hillestad, a Mayor's Arts Award winner in 1996.

The public is encouraged to submit names of members of the Lincoln arts community who have died since the last awards ceremony in June 2009 for memorial recognition at the awards event. Event sponsors are Union Bank & Trust Company and The Kinder Porter Scott Family Foundation. The Mayor's Video Sponsor is the Dish Restaurant.