THE WINNERS: 2016 ARTY AWARDS
The Liz Stratton Arts Patron Award and the Legacy Art Award winners were announced in advance.
Finalists in other categories were announced a month ago and winners will be awarded this
evening.
“We could not be more honored to recognize these bright stars in our community. The arts are a big
feather in Topeka’s cap and tonight we gather to recognize that,” said Sarah Fizell, executive
director of ARTSConnect.
EXCERPT OF REMARKS FROM SARAH FIZELL:
“We are celebrating a lot tonight – the very best of the arts in Topeka. ARTSConnect’s
mission is to promote the arts through building community connections and broadening the
understanding of how the arts enhance the quality of life in our community. That is a
mouthful but it means that ARTSConnect is here to promote the arts in Topeka, and to help
community leaders understand the critical role that the arts play in making our community
safer, our businesses more profitable, our schools more effective and our lives richer.”
WINNER of Liz Stratton Arts Patron Award: Judith & Frank Sabatini
Judith is an artist and philanthropist and with her husband Frank, has been a tireless supporter of
the arts in Topeka and we could not be happier to recognize that support with this award.
WINNER of Legacy Art Award: Topeka Art Guild
The Topeka Art Guild is celebrating 100 years of supporting and enhancing the arts in Topeka and
we are very proud to give them this first year award.
WINNER – Jamie Colon for the Topeka Mural Project: Artist & artistic director for the Topeka
Mural Project is awarded an Arty Award for his tireless work to make our city more beautiful
through the installation of public works of art. This award is a surprise to Jamie.
Here are this year's finalists:
Community Arts Award
Downtown Topeka, Inc. (Winner)
Restoration of Animal Land @ Gage Park
The Unspoken Violence Project
Glenda Taylor Visual Arts Award
John Holcomb
Britta McKee
Larry Peters (Winner)
Performing Arts Award
Martinez Hillard (Winner)
Last Minute Folk
Topeka Blues Society
Literary Arts Award
Microburst
Leah Sewell (Winner)
Nancy Sprowell Geise
PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD
WINNER: Matryoshka Tattoo & Gallery
Liz Stratton Arts Patron Award: This award honors a person or business that has made a
significant investment in support of the arts by donating their time, their money or their
other resources for the betterment of the arts across this city.
Community Art Award: This award goes to an effort within the city that raises the
standard of arts in our community. A neighborhood, a parish, a school or other community
effort within our city all would qualify.
Performing Art Award: This award goes to a performing artist, company or group that has
exhibited a commitment to increasing the quality of performance, audience engagement
and makes Topeka a more entertaining place to live, work and play.
Visual Art Award: This award goes to an individual artist or group of artists who have
exhibited a commitment to our community through their creation of visual artwork.
Literary Art Award: This award goes to a writer or group of writers who have a Topeka
connection or who write about the city.
People’s Choice: Favorite First Friday Artwalk Location: Ballots were being collected
across the city and online.
