Celebration of the Arts/Arts & Cultural Awards - Winners Announced!
The Annual Arts & Cultural Awards recognize the amazing talent in Allegany, Cattaraugus and Chautauqua counties.
Thomas Barnes Lifetime Achievement: 2018 Winner Marcia Gallineaux-Hubert, Dance Arts. Named after longtime Arts Council board president, this award celebrates the career of an individual artist, organization, individual at an organization, or individual artist who, among other distinctions, has demonstrated particular commitment to his or her work throughout a long career and has made important contributions regionally, nationally or internationally in his/her field, especially at a milestone marker, such as retirement, job change, posthumous recognition, etc.
Distinguished Artist of the Year: 2018 Winner Elliott Hutten, Hog-Shed Studio Pottery. This award honors an individual artist in any discipline for their creative excellence and superior accomplishments in 2017.
Outstanding High School Senior: 2018 Winner Tioga Simpson, Archbishop Walsh High School. This award recognizes an outstanding high school senior graduating in 2018, who will be continuing their education at any college or university, and pursuing studies in dance, literature, fine arts, graphic design, music, or theater.
Excellence in Arts Education: 2018 Winner Amy Powers, Alfred-Almond Central School. This award honors an arts educator for their work in providing arts instruction that helps to guide the next generation of artists in our region, and cultivating life-long supporters of the arts.
Volunteer of the Year: 2018 Winner Mark Burr, Hollywood Theater of Gowanda. Many of the region’s arts and cultural organizations rely on volunteers to put on the show! This award recognizes the outstanding volunteer efforts of an unpaid individual or group that has had a major impact on the arts and culture sector.
Regrant Program of the Year: 2018 Winner Trenton Lutes, Artist in Community Grant. Recognizes the achievement, dedication and creativity of one the many NYSCA Decentralization program recipients (individual or group) from Allegany, Cattaraugus or Chautauqua counties for 2017.
Thomas Barnes Lifetime Achievement: 2018 Winner Marcia Gallineaux-Hubert, Dance Arts. Named after longtime Arts Council board president, this award celebrates the career of an individual artist, organization, individual at an organization, or individual artist who, among other distinctions, has demonstrated particular commitment to his or her work throughout a long career and has made important contributions regionally, nationally or internationally in his/her field, especially at a milestone marker, such as retirement, job change, posthumous recognition, etc.
Distinguished Artist of the Year: 2018 Winner Elliott Hutten, Hog-Shed Studio Pottery. This award honors an individual artist in any discipline for their creative excellence and superior accomplishments in 2017.
Outstanding High School Senior: 2018 Winner Tioga Simpson, Archbishop Walsh High School. This award recognizes an outstanding high school senior graduating in 2018, who will be continuing their education at any college or university, and pursuing studies in dance, literature, fine arts, graphic design, music, or theater.
Excellence in Arts Education: 2018 Winner Amy Powers, Alfred-Almond Central School. This award honors an arts educator for their work in providing arts instruction that helps to guide the next generation of artists in our region, and cultivating life-long supporters of the arts.
Volunteer of the Year: 2018 Winner Mark Burr, Hollywood Theater of Gowanda. Many of the region’s arts and cultural organizations rely on volunteers to put on the show! This award recognizes the outstanding volunteer efforts of an unpaid individual or group that has had a major impact on the arts and culture sector.
Regrant Program of the Year: 2018 Winner Trenton Lutes, Artist in Community Grant. Recognizes the achievement, dedication and creativity of one the many NYSCA Decentralization program recipients (individual or group) from Allegany, Cattaraugus or Chautauqua counties for 2017.
Past Award Winners
2017 Arts & Cultural Award WInners
Distinguished Artist of the Year: Debra Eck (Chautauqua County)
Emerging Talent: Bobby Sader (Cattaraugus County)
Volunteer of the Year: Betsy Cashing (Allegany County)
Supporter of the Arts & Cultural Sector: Peg Bothner (Cattaraugus County)
Regrant Program of the Year: American-Scandinavian Heritage Foundation (Chautauqua County)
Thomas Barnes Lifetime Achievement Award - Carson Waterman
2016 Arts & Cultural Award Winners
Distinguished Artist of the Year: Barbara Fox (Cattaraugus County), US Mint coin design 2016
Emerging Talent: Austyn Taylor (Allegany County), ceramic sculptor, 2015 STB Honorable Mention
Volunteer of the Year: Jeff McMullen (Cattaraugus County)
Supporter of the Arts & Cultural Sector: Lisa Lantz, Alfred University (Allegany County)
Regrant Program of the Year: Olean Theater Workshop (Cattaraugus County )
The Lifetime Achievement Award: Robert Taylor (Olean Public Library), retiring June 2015
2015 Arts & Cultural Award Winners
Distinguished Artist of the Year: Jennifer Miller, Featherdust Studios (Cattaraugus County), Duck Stamp Winner 2015
Emerging Talent: Kimberly Merrill, Hollywood Theater/Midsummer Night Opera (Cattaraugus County)
Volunteer of the Year: Susan Mackay, North Shore Arts Alliance (Chautauqua County)
Supporter of the Arts & Cultural Sector: The Derwick Family, Fox Financial (Cattaraugus County)
Regrant Program of the Year: Chase Angier, “As the Air Moves Back From You” performance installation (Allegany County )
The Lifetime Achievement Award: John Whitney, Founder & Director of Southern Tier Symphony (posthumous)
Distinguished Artist of the Year: Debra Eck (Chautauqua County)
Emerging Talent: Bobby Sader (Cattaraugus County)
Volunteer of the Year: Betsy Cashing (Allegany County)
Supporter of the Arts & Cultural Sector: Peg Bothner (Cattaraugus County)
Regrant Program of the Year: American-Scandinavian Heritage Foundation (Chautauqua County)
Thomas Barnes Lifetime Achievement Award - Carson Waterman
2016 Arts & Cultural Award Winners
Distinguished Artist of the Year: Barbara Fox (Cattaraugus County), US Mint coin design 2016
Emerging Talent: Austyn Taylor (Allegany County), ceramic sculptor, 2015 STB Honorable Mention
Volunteer of the Year: Jeff McMullen (Cattaraugus County)
Supporter of the Arts & Cultural Sector: Lisa Lantz, Alfred University (Allegany County)
Regrant Program of the Year: Olean Theater Workshop (Cattaraugus County )
The Lifetime Achievement Award: Robert Taylor (Olean Public Library), retiring June 2015
2015 Arts & Cultural Award Winners
Distinguished Artist of the Year: Jennifer Miller, Featherdust Studios (Cattaraugus County), Duck Stamp Winner 2015
Emerging Talent: Kimberly Merrill, Hollywood Theater/Midsummer Night Opera (Cattaraugus County)
Volunteer of the Year: Susan Mackay, North Shore Arts Alliance (Chautauqua County)
Supporter of the Arts & Cultural Sector: The Derwick Family, Fox Financial (Cattaraugus County)
Regrant Program of the Year: Chase Angier, “As the Air Moves Back From You” performance installation (Allegany County )
The Lifetime Achievement Award: John Whitney, Founder & Director of Southern Tier Symphony (posthumous)
Platinum Sponsors
Erick & Marianne Laine
Silver Sponsors
Award Sponsors
Petruzzi Insurance
Worth W. Smith
Outstanding High School Senior Scholarship
Christie's Boutique
Hedley Brook Agency