Iowa Arts Awards
Purpose
The Iowa Arts Council Board of Directors conducts the Iowa Arts Awards Program every two years to recognize exemplary individuals, organizations, businesses and communities that have made outstanding contributions to the arts in Iowa.
There are two award categories: the Arts Build Communities Awards and the Iowa Arts Award.
The Iowa Arts Award
This award honors an individual, organization, business, or community for their long-term commitment to excellence in the arts. The Iowa Arts Award recipient is selected from candidates nominated for an Arts Build Communities Award.
Arts Build Communities Awards
These awards honor individuals, businesses, communities and organizations in the following categories that have demonstrated outstanding achievements:
- Arts Advocate Award: honors an individual, organization, business or elected official who is an advocate for the arts.
- Arts in Education Award: honors an individual, organization or school that contributes to the enhancement of arts education.
- Arts Organization Award: honors an arts organization that demonstrates a commitment to artistic and managerial excellence, as well as community involvement in their defined service area.
- Arts Program Award: honors an exemplary arts program initiated by an organization, artist(s) or a community.
- Business Award in the Arts: honors a business that demonstrates a commitment to supporting the arts in their defined service area.
- Community Award in the Arts: honors an Iowa community that demonstrates a strong commitment to the arts.
- Individual Artist Award: honors an exemplary, individual artist who has demonstrated artistic excellence within his/her discipline.
- Media in the Arts Award: honors a radio, television or print media organization that has demonstrated a strong commitment to the arts.
- Performing Group Award: honors an exemplary performing group that has demonstrated artistic excellence within their discipline.
- Traditional Folklife: honors a traditional artist, performing group, community scholar, professional researcher, ethnic museum or cultural group for achievements in the field of folklore.
- Young Iowan Award: honors an Iowan, aged 17-25, who is involved in the arts in her/his community.
Eligibility
Individuals, organizations and businesses in Iowa may nominate themselves or others who have made outstanding contributions to the arts in Iowa. Except for the Young Iowan Award, individual candidates must be at least 18 years of age and not be enrolled in school. All candidates must be residents of Iowa.
Organizations, performing groups and businesses being nominated must be based in Iowa. All city, county, state and federal government entities, and tribal councils in Iowa are eligible for nomination.
Nominators are to avoid any action that could be interpreted as the use of the nomination process to further their own interests or the interests of an organization in which they manage, advise or are employed. Iowa Arts Council board and staff, and members of their immediate families are not eligible to nominate a candidate or be nominated for an award.
The Iowa Arts Council reserves the right not to make an award in a specific award category.
The Review Process
The Award Committee will review all eligible nominations and make recommendations to the Iowa Arts Council. Candidates will be contacted by the Iowa Arts Council and asked to confirm their participation in the selection process. Iowa Arts Council board and staff members will not respond to requests for the names of nominees, nominators, or award winners prior to the awards presentation program. The Iowa Arts Council reserves the right not to make an award in a specific award category.
Announcement of Awards
Regional award winners will be announced on this web site.
