Mayor's Arts Awards

In 2005, the Cultural Affairs Division of the City of Ventura, on behalf of former Mayor Brian Brennan, established the Mayor’s Arts Awards to recognize the contributions to the cultural community by City residents, artists, educators, organizations and business leaders.

You’re invited! Mayor’s Arts Awards on November 17

The City of Ventura celebrates its vibrant arts community at the seventh annual Mayor’s Arts Awards, which recognize the artistic achievements and contributions to the cultural community by City residents, artists, educators, organizations and business leaders.

Please join Mayor Bill Fulton for a reception honoring the 2011 recipients on Thursday, November 17, 2011, 7-9 pm, at the Museum of Ventura County, 56 E. Main Street, in the Downtown Ventura Cultural District. Everyone welcome! Click here for the invitation.

The 2011 Award Recipients are: Ann Deal, Arts Patron; Susan Cook, Artist in the Community; Steve and Polly Hoganson – Zoey’s Cafe, Creative Entrepreneur; Tim Schiffer, Arts Leader; Mary Perez, Arts Educator; and Maribel Hernandez, Emerging Artist

Nominations for the awards were solicited from the community and the honorees were selected by a panel of leaders from the fields of art, education and business. This program is co-presented by the Community Development and Parks, Recreation and Community Partnerships Deparments.

Nominations are now closed for the 2011 Mayor’s Arts Awards

The City of Ventura, on behalf of Mayor Bill Fulton, welcomes nominations for the seventh annual Mayor’s Arts Awards, recognizing the artistic achievements and contributions to the cultural community by City residents, artists, educators, organizations and business leaders.

Further program goals include cultivating greater visibility and understanding of the value of the arts, as well as building new leadership and developing new patrons for the arts.

Download the 2011 Mayor's Arts Awards Nomination form (pdf, 584KB)

Or request a printed version of the application from Creative Economy Specialist Eric Wallner at ewallner@cityofventura.net or 677-3911. Nominations will be accepted until Friday, September 16 in six categories:

Arts Patron, an arts professional whose strong support of the arts has been ongoing through philanthropic and/or volunteer service;

Arts Leader, an arts professional who has demonstrated outstanding leadership, organizational stewardship and partnership within the local arts community;

Arts Educator, an individual or organization whose achievements and contributions to arts education have been significant and far reaching;

Artist in the Community, an established individual artist (in any discipline) for artistic excellence and singular efforts in contributing to Ventura’s cultural vitality;

Emerging Artist, awarded to a working artist (in any discipline) under the age of 40 who has demonstrated outstanding promise and commitment to the Ventura arts community (students are ineligible).

Creative Entrepreneur, awarded to a locally owned for-profit business which exemplifies the impact and vitality of Ventura’s creative economy. This new category has been added this year to recognize the economic impact of creative businesses.

A panel of community members, including representatives from the arts and business worlds, will review applications based on: the significance and magnitude of the nominee’s contributions; leadership in the arts community and commitment to service to the arts over a significant period of time; benefit and impact of the nominee’s contribution to the citizens of the City of Ventura; and potential contribution to the arts in the emerging artist category. Mayor Fulton will present the non-monetary awards at a reception in November.

Each recipient will receive a limited edition artwork created by artist Lis J. Schwitters entitled "Mark of Excellence". This year’s awards are being presented as a joint project of the Community Development and the Parks, Recreation and Community Partnerships Departments.