2020 Obelisk Awards Co-Chairs Mimi Crume Sterling and Cari Walls have announced the final details for the annual fundraiser for the Business Council for the Arts.
Taking place on Tuesday, November 17, the event, it was decided, will follow the trend of the season and be virtual from noon to 1 p.m., with Comerica Bank Senior VP/Chief Economist Dr. Robert Dye providing the State of the Arts in North Texas address.
According to Mimi, “The Obelisk Awards is a distinctly different awards ceremony that primarily recognizes businesses for their support of our North Texas arts and culture community. It is my honor to again serve as co-chair to bring together the for-profit and nonprofit worlds to ensure a vibrant, diverse community for all.”
This year’s collection of honorees and their nominators include the following:
- Business Champion for the Arts — Sanjiv Yajnik of Capital One nominated by Dallas Symphony Orchestra
- Lifetime Achievement Award — Dr. Dennis Kratz nominated by UTD School of Arts and Humanities
- Arts Education – Sammons Enterprises nominated by Big Thought
- Arts Partnerships –
- (Large) Frost Bank nominated by Nasher Sculpture Center
- (Medium) Thompson and Knight Foundation nominated by Gail Sachson, Ask Me About Art
- (Small) Joseph Vincelli Music nominated by Donnamarie McGaw
- Distinguished Cultural — Dallas Chamber Symphony nominated by Bell Nunnally and Martin LLP
- New Initiatives –
- (Medium) ACES nominated by Nell Langford
- (Small) Irving Archives and Museum nominated by thinkIndia Foundation
- Outstanding Leadership Arts Alumnus — Megan Heber nominated by Raymond Rowell
- Visionary Nonprofit Arts Leader — Margie J. Reese nominated by SLDcreative and African American Museum Dallas
The honorees were selected by a panel of judges made up of the co-chairs, Rick del Monte, Ann and Charles Eisemann, Patricia Meadows, Nancy Nasher, Hollie Neal, Sammetria Goodson, Saumya Anveshica Tayi and LaMonte Thomas.
It was a challenge, since there were 38 finalists this year including:
- Arts Education —
- ARThropology nominated by DEX Imagin
- 410 Line Dancers nominated by 410 Line Dancers
- Arts Partnerships (Large) — Cinemark nominated by Dallas Film
- Business Champion for the Arts
- Andy Smith of Texas Instruments Foundation nominated by Dallas Theater Center
- Carol and Kevin March of The March Family Foundation nominated by Dallas Children’s Theater
- Courtney Crothers of UT Southwestern Medical Center nominated by UT Southwestern Medical Center
- Distinguished Cultural —
- talkSTEM nominated by Capital One
- The Aga Khan Council for Central United States nominated by Almas Muscatwalla
- The Art Centre Theatre nominated by The Art Centre Theatre
- thinkIndia Foundation nominated by Irving Archives and Museum
- Wesley Prep – The Common Ground Experiment nominated by Sophia Cousino
- New Initiatives – (Small) Arani Consulting Group nominated by: The Art Centre Theatre
- Outstanding Leadership Arts — Richard Serrano nominated by Emily Yan
- Visionary Nonprofit Arts Leader —
- David Lozano nominated by Teatro Dallas
- Dennis Kratz nominated by UTD School of Arts and Humanities
- Frank Risch nominated by: Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum
- Jamey Jamison nominated by Mike DiMascio
- Janice Spooner nominated by Flutissimo! Flute Choir
- Jeff Barfoot nominated by Dallas Society of Visual Communications
- Jeff Leuschel nominated by Video Association of Dallas
- Johnathan Brownlee nominated by Dallas Film
- Joseph Vincelli nominated by Vicki Niedermayer
- Julie Shipp nominated by Frisco Arts
- Marney Makridakis nominated by Kelli Hendren
- Richard Mckay nominated by Bell Nunnally and Martin LLP
- Rachel Rogerson nominated by Ro2 Art
- Raphael Parry nominated by Griffith Barbee PLLC
- Suma Kulkarni nominated by Tejas Dance
- Vanessa Logan nominated by Texas Ballet Theater
Tickets and sponsorships are available here! Insider tip: Individual tickets can be snapped up for a mere $20.
* Graphic/photo provided by Business Council for the Arts