Winners of Mayor’s Arts Awards Announced

Published on August 27, 2021

The Lincoln Arts Council (LAC) today announced the individuals and organizations to be honored at the 43rd annual Mayor’s Arts Awards the evening of Monday, November 8 at the Johnny Carson Center for Emerging Media Arts at UNL. The event is open to the public and includes a reception with an artistic hors d’oeuvres buffet at 6 p.m. and the awards presentation at 7 p.m. Reservation information is available at artscene.org. 

This year’s theme is “The Arts Find a Way” and is based on the billboard artwork of local artist Danny Reneau as part of the Lincoln Billboard Art Project. Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird selected the project as this year’s Mayor’s Choice Award. Public Art Lincoln created the project to unite support, inspire, and bring joy and health to the community during the pandemic. The Mayor’s Choice Award is sponsored by Doug and Mary Campbell.

Local artists are creating work based on the theme. The pieces will be on display at the event and available for purchase to benefit LAC. Each award winner will receive an original art piece by Reneau. Returning as emcee is DeWayne Taylor, a teaching artist, beat boxer, and KFRX radio host.

Other honorees and sponsors are:

• Outstanding Arts Organization Award:  The Lied Center for the Performing Arts (Sponsored by West Gate Bank)  
• Artistic Achievement Award – Visual Arts:  Artist Lisa Lockman, Art Professor and Department Chair at Nebraska Wesleyan (Sponsored by Allo Communications)
• Artistic Achievement Award – Youth:  Lincoln High School musician Yanori Ferguson (Sponsored by FES)
• Artistic Achievement Award – Performing Arts: Kokyo Taiko Japanese-style drumming group (Sponsored by Myron and Karen Gagner)
• Artistic Achievement Award – Literary Arts:  Author Mary Pipher (Sponsored by Commercial Investment Properties)
• Gladys Lux Education Award: Lorinda Rice, Art Curriculum and Instruction Specialist for Lincoln Public Schools (Sponsored by the Gladys Lux Foundation)
• Legacy of the Arts Award: Visual artists Colleen Eubanks, founder of the Lincoln Arts Festival  (Sponsored by Legacy Retirement Communities)
• Heart of the Arts Award: Restaurant owner Pepe Fierro (Sponsored by Runza Restaurants)
• ArtScene Backstage Award:  Arts Incorporated, a management and promotion organization for local performing arts groups (Sponsored by Susan Sehnert Stuart)
• Outstanding Event Award:  Art Safari, a program of the LUX Center for the Arts (Sponsored by Marc and Kathy LeBaron)
• Benefactor of the Arts Award:  Larry Small, donor of the new sculpture honoring Dr. Susan La Flesche Picotte (Sponsored by Rembolt Ludtke)
• Lincoln Community Foundation Arts for Kids Award: The Bay/Rabble Mill (Sponsored by the Lincoln Community Foundation)
• Larry Enersen Urban Design Award:  to be announced (Sponsored by The Clark Enersen Partners)

Tickets for the event are $80 and are available from the LAC at 402-434-2787 or artscene.org.  The reservation deadline is October 22. Corporate tables and sponsorship opportunities are also available. Those interested in receiving or sponsoring scholarship tickets, should contact the LAC.

Other sponsors of the event are Ameritas, Dahlsten Truck Line, Farmers Mutual of Nebraska, and Union Bank and Trust. Those interested in sponsorships for the event may contact the LAC at 402-434-2787.

The public is encouraged to submit names of members of the arts community who have died since the last awards ceremony in October 2020 for memorial recognition.