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Mayor’s Awards for the Arts 2024



   Nominations Now Open!

The City of Springfield in partnership with the Springfield Area Arts Council invites you to nominate an individual or business for a 2024 Mayor’s Award: Artfully You. These awards recognize outstanding talent in and dedication to the arts in Sangamon and Menard counties, the area served by the Springfield Area Arts Council. The eight award categories include Individual Visual Artist; Individual Performing Artist; Individual Literary Artist; Individual Visual Arts Organization; Arts Volunteer; Arts Educator; Arts Student; and Business Committed to the Arts.

Please complete the nomination form in its entirety and return it to the Springfield Area Arts Council, 420 South Sixth Street, Springfield, Illinois 62701, or as a PDF to director@springfieldartsco.org.

  • Nominations must be received no later than 5:00 p.m., Friday, October 11th, 2024..
  • There is no limit to the number of nominations that may be submitted. Use a separate form for each.
  • There is no charge 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.

   Categories

  • Individual Performing Artist
  • Individual Literary Artist
  • Individual Visual Artist
  • Individual Visual Arts Organization
  • Arts Volunteer
  • Business that Supports the Arts
  • Arts Educator
  • Arts Student

   What Does It Take To Nominate?

Your submission must include the nomination form along with a typed narrative (two-page maximum) supporting your nominee for the 2024 Mayor’s Awards for the Arts. Hand-written nominations will not be accepted. The following criteria will be used to evaluate nominees. Please note that not all criteria will apply to every category.
 
  • Artistic Merit: Indicate the artistic medium (dance, theatre, music, visual arts, literary) 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, et cetera 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?
  • Documentation: Letters of support, résumé, newspaper reviews, performance/exhibit programs, et cetera may be submitted but are not required. Three pieces maximum.

   Awards Presentation

Mayor Misty Buscher, along with Bella Szabo, Executive Director of the Springfield Area Arts Council Board of Directors, will present the awards on Saturday, November 2nd, 2024, at the Inn at 835, at 2:00 pm. The public is invited to attend to celebrate the nominees.

Tickets are now available for the 2024 Mayor's Awards for the Arts: Artfully You Award Ceremony, Get Tickets Here.

   Questions?

Please contact Bella Szabo, Executive Director of the Springfield Area Arts Council, at 217.753.3519.