The Board of Directors of the Arts Council of Mendocino County is pleased to announce the 21st Annual Mendocino County Arts Champion Award recipients.
Arts Champions, nominated each year by community members and selected by the Arts Council board were formally recognized with a consent calendar proclamation of the Board of Supervisors at their meeting on October 31, 2023. A reception followed the proclamation at the County Administration Center on Low Gap Road in Ukiah.
Please join the Arts Council of Mendocino County in recognizing and celebrating the 2023 Arts Champions in the following categories:
Artist: Solange Roberdeau; Business: Pear Tree Center/Cire Equity; Educator: Doug Browe; Individual: Jess Thompson.
Read the full article about the 2023 Award Winners & see pictures here
The Arts Council of Mendocino County seeks nominations from the community for the Annual Mendocino County Art Champion Awards. Art Champion Awards are made in the following four categories: Business Champion for the Arts; Individual Champion for the Arts; Artist Champion; and Educational Champion. Nominations are accepted on a rolling basis and are due by September 15th.
The Mendocino County Art Champion Awards are presented by the Mendocino County Board of Supervisors each October to coincide with National Arts and Humanities Month. National Arts and Humanities Month is a coast-to-coast collective celebration of culture in America, dedicated to giving millions of Americans the opportunity to explore new facets of the arts and humanities in their lives and encourage them to begin a lifelong habit of active participation. To learn more about National Arts and Humanities Month, visit Americans for the Arts or the California Arts Council. To read about current and past Mendocino County Art Champions, or to nominate a future champion, please see below. Nominations closed on September 16th.
BUSINESS CHAMPIONS FOR THE ARTS
Businesses in this category demonstrate significant regional or countywide support for the arts. Support can be in the form of grants, underwriting, major sponsorship, in-kind donations, and/or volunteer support. These businesses not only understand the benefits of the arts to creating vital communities and strengthening local economies and education, but their contributions significantly benefit the wider community as well. Businesses honored: Pear Tree Center/Cire Equity ( 2023) Gallery Bookshop & Bookwinkle’s Children’s Books (2022), Black Oak Coffee (2021), Willits Weekly (2020), Frankie’s Pizza and Ice Cream (2019), The Green Room (2018), Headlands Coffeehouse (2017), Savings Bank of Mendocino County (2016), North Coast Brewing Company (2015), Arena Theater (2014), John Chan Plumbing (2013), Gualala Arts Center (2012), Visit Mendocino County, Inc./Mendocino County Lodging Association (2011), Community Foundation of Mendocino County (2010), Harvest Market (2009), Ukiah Music Center (2008), The Willits Nickel & Dime (2007), KOZT FM (2006), Sea Ranch Properties (2005), The Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens (2004), and Fetzer Vineyards (2003).
INDIVIDUAL CHAMPIONS FOR THE ARTS
Individuals in this category demonstrate significant regional or countywide support for the arts, in the form of grants, underwriting, major sponsorship, in-kind donations, and/or volunteerism. These individuals not only understand the contributions of the arts to creating vital communities and strengthening local economies and education, but their contributions significantly benefit the wider community as well. Individual Arts Champions: Jess Thompson (2023) Yoli Rose (2022), Larry R. Wagner (2021), Gary Martin (2020), Don Willis (2019), Albert Repovsch (2018), Janet Self (2017), Debbie Bowles (2016), Mary Ann Villwock (2015), Spencer Brewer (2014), Jill Schmuckley (2013), Van Phillips (2012), Pattie DeMatteo (2011), Katie Gibbs (2010), Helen Klembeck (2009), Jay Gordon (2008), Robert Rhoades (2007), David Hance (2006), Creek and Kitty Norris (2005), Skip and Barbara Newell (2004), and Jean Slonecker (2003).
ARTIST CHAMPIONS
Artists in this category demonstrate artistic excellence in their chosen discipline (visual arts, crafts, music, dance, literature, poetry, performance, etc.). In addition, these artists demonstrate a commitment to strengthening their community by using their artistic accomplishments to benefit the wider community. Artist Champions: Solange Roberdeau (2023), Nick Schwartz of Cider Creek Collective (2022), Corine Pearce (2021), Lauren Sinnott (2020), Jaye Alison Moscariello (2019), Nick Schwartz (2019), Cathleen Micheaels (2018), Adele Pruitt (2017), Elliot Little (2016), Ginny Rorby (2015), Judy Geer Linney (2014), Bryan Arnold (2013), Laura Fogg (2012), Elizabeth Raybee (2011), Juvenal Vasquez (2010), Ann Maglinte (2009), Kevin Wells (2008), John Fisher (2007), Blake More (2006), Mac and Kate Magruder (2005), Mildred Norseen Pinkham (2004), and Walter Green (2003).
EDUCATION CHAMPIONS FOR THE ARTS
Champions in this category are individuals, organizations and schools, honored for creating exemplary art education programs that enhance learning through the development of best practices in art education and/or create an environment for outstanding achievement through the arts. Educator Arts Champions: Doug Browe (2023) Molly Dwyer (2022), Blake More (2021), Judy Stavely (2020), Kevin Wells (2019), Gary Martin (2018), Trudy McCreanor of Mendocino Ballet (2017), Pavlos Mayakis (2016), Pacific Community Charter School (2015), Lech Slocinski (2014), Tom Johnsen (2013), Carolyn Bakewell (2012), Carolyn Carpenter (2011), Kathleen Kirkpatrick (2010), Dana Gray Elementary School (2009), Mendocino Coast Writers Conference / College of the Redwoods (2008), Tree of Life Charter School (2007), Mendocino County Office of Education (2006), Mendocino Unified School Enrichment (MUSE) (2005), Art Explorers (2004), and Willits Charter School (2003).
ART ORGANIZATION CHAMPIONS FOR THE ARTS
(New category in 2015) Arts Organization Champions: Deep Valley Arts Collective / MEDIUM Gallery (2022), Gualala Arts (2021), Art Center Ukiah (2020), Willits Center for the Arts (2018), SPACE (School of Performing Arts and Cultural Education) (2016), and Friends of the Round Valley Library (2015).
HONORABLE MENTION ARTS CHAMPIONS
MEDIUM Gallery (2021), David “Sus” Susalla (2018), Jim Colling (posthumous, 2018), and Patsy Joy Chadwick (posthumous, 2017).
The Arts Council of Mendocino County is seeking nominations from the entire community for this year’s Art Champion Awards. The general public is encouraged to submit recommendations of artists, art organizations, businesses, and individuals who support or otherwise further the flourishing of the arts in the county. The awards will be presented at a meeting of the Board of Supervisors in October, with a public reception immediately following the awards presentation.
The Arts Council of Mendocino County seeks nominations from the community for the Annual Mendocino County Art Champion Awards. Art Champion Awards are made in the following four categories: Business Champion for the Arts; Individual Champion for the Arts; Artist Champion; and Educational Champion. Nominations are accepted on a rolling basis and are due by the last Friday in August. The awards are presented by the Mendocino County Board of Supervisors in October to coincide with National Arts and Humanities Month. National Arts and Humanities Month is a coast-to-coast collective celebration of culture in America, dedicated to giving millions of Americans the opportunity to explore new facets of the arts and humanities in their lives and encourage them to begin a lifelong habit of active participation. To learn more about National Arts and Humanities Month, visit the website for Americans for the Arts at www.americansforthearts.org or the website for the California Arts Council at www.cac.ca.gov
Each year, nominations for the Art Champion Awards are received from the community. The winners are selected by the Arts Council of Mendocino County’s Board of Directors, and recognized by the Mendocino County Board of Supervisors.
Mendocino County Art Champions 2023
Mendocino County Art Champions 2022
Mendocino County Art Champions 2021
Mendocino County Art Champions 2020
Mendocino County Art Champions 2019
Mendocino County Art Champions 2018
Mendocino County Art Champions 2017
Mendocino County Art Champions 2016
Mendocino County Art Champions 2015
Mendocino County Art Champions 2014
Mendocino County Art Champions 2013
Mendocino County Art Champions 2012
Mendocino County Art Champions 2011
Mendocino County Art Champions 2010
Mendocino County Art Champions 2009
