The Arts + Business Council’s annual awards program honors leaders in the Philadelphia region who embody and foster cross-sector collaboration between creative and business communities.
The Awards bring together members of these communities, strengthening the network of leaders, volunteers, artists, organizations, and partnerships, to illustrate the contribution of the arts to our city and its residents. Each year, hundreds of business, legal, technology, and creative professionals gather for an evening celebrating the exceptional leaders, partnerships, and volunteers who drive change and innovation in our communities.
CALL FOR NOMINATIONS
DEADLINE: DECEMBER 20, 2019
DEADLINE: DECEMBER 20, 2019
Award Categories
This award is bestowed to individuals who are deeply engaged in the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Community. Recipients must demonstrate remarkable leadership, exceptional innovation, and a commitment to their community.
Leadership Award Nominees should exemplify all of the following attributes:
LEADERSHIP
Nominees may range from individual artists to C-suite professionals who have held one or more leadership positions within the creative community (nonprofit boards, volunteer leadership, staff at both for and not-for-profit creative organizations)
INNOVATION
Nominees have brought innovative approaches to the creative community that have made a valuable impact (such as design thinking for business or entrepreneurial tactics for arts organizations)
COMMUNITY
Nominees have shown a commitment to improving the civic vibrancy of Greater Philadelphia
This prestigious award is bestowed upon an artist who has achieved national or worldwide acclaim, embodies artistic achievement and serves as an inspiration to the Greater Philadelphia region both as an artist and a leader. The honoree for this award will be announced by Arts + Business Council staff in 2020.
This honorable award is bestowed upon individuals in the Greater Philadelphia region who have distinguished themselves as leaders in the arts, culture, or creative sectors. The honoree for this award will be announced by Arts + Business Council staff in 2020.
Past Winners
In its 35 years of honoring leaders across the Greater Philadelphia region, the Arts + Business Council Awards have taken on a variety of iterations.
Throughout its span, the Awards have shifted and molded to take the shape of what best recognizes our region’s greatest leaders who embody and foster cross-sector collaboration between creative and business communities. Along the way, some award categories have been added to highlight specific verticals within our communities while other categories have been retired to make room for new, innovative ideas.
2019
Quiara Alegría Hudes, Playwright & Author
David B. Devan, General Director & President, Opera Philadelphia
2018
Joan Myers Brown, Founder, Philadanco!
Jane Golden, Founder, Executive Director, Mural Arts
Meryl Levitz, Founding President & CEO, Visit Philly
2017
Kevin Hart, Comedian, Actor, & Writer
2016
Tariq Luqmaan Trotter aka Black Thought, The Roots
2015
Gene Shay, WXPN, Philadelphia Folk Festival
2014
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2019
Integral Molecular and University City Science Center
2018
Reed Smith LLP + Village of Arts and Humanities
2017
2016
Century 21 Department Store + Moore College of Performing Arts & Design
2015
Elixr Coffee + Individual Artists / SEI + Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts
2014
The Resources Exchange + Revolution Recovery / Philadelphia Airport + Regional Artists
2019
Jennifer Pouchot, Vice President, Digital & Creative, SEI | Board: The Painted Bride
2018
Jeffrey Holder, Jeffrey Holder Photography | Board: InLiquid Art + Design
2017
Edmond Ghisu, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation | Board: Rock to the Future
2016
Frances Feldbaum, St. Clair CPA Solutions | Board: BalletX
2015
Karen Greene, Amerisource Bergen | Board: Philadelphia Young Playwrights
2014
2019
John Chionchio, Partner, Ballard Spahr, LLP and Patrick Brady, Attorney, Ballard Spahr, LLP | Volunteered with Intercept Nexus, LLC
2018
Robert Louis, Saul Ewing LLP | Volunteered with Whitemarsh Art Center
2017
Sekou Campbell, Law Offices of Sekou Campbell | Volunteered with Individual Artist Rashida Holmes
2016
Dennis McCooe, Blank Rome LLP | Volunteered with Danco Furniture
2015
Jonathan S. Ziss, Goldberg Segalla LLP | Volunteered with Individual Artist
2014
James Holman, Duane Morris | Volunteered with Individual Artist Joanna Manousis
2019
2018
William Haines, Pennsylvania Trust | Volunteered with ArtWell
2017
Christine Ostrowski, School District of Philadelphia | Volunteered with Rock to the Future
Edward P. Pazicky, EPP Consulting | Volunteered with The Artblog, inc
2015
Audrey Klijan, Independent Consultant | Volunteered with Hedgerow Theatre
2014
David Othmer, WHYY | Volunteered with Upper Darby Arts & Education