Arts & Cultural Empowerment Award nominees announced

Staff reports
·1 min read

Special people bring color to our lives, and some do it just a little more vibrantly than the rest.

The Wichita Falls Alliance for Arts and Culture will be hosting the Arts & Cultural Empowerment (ACE) Awards at 11:30 a.m., Oct. 19, at the Wichita Falls Regional Airport. The ceremony will celebrate outstanding local artists and art champions.

Wichita Falls artist Katie Britt talks about the design features she included while painting two Mane Event horse sculptures in memory of Christy Ridinger. The horses are in front of Texas Roadhouse.
Wichita Falls artist Katie Britt talks about the design features she included while painting two Mane Event horse sculptures in memory of Christy Ridinger. The horses are in front of Texas Roadhouse.

A total of eight winners will be announced in a variety of categories.

Mayor Stephen Santellana will announce the winner of the Mayor’s Choice Award.

The Alliance said in a release that the awards recognize and honor artists, art leaders, businesses, organizations, and individuals who have displayed consistent and exemplary support of the arts and culture in Wichita County.

Members of the Selection Committee, which included Carlos Aleman, Glen Bacus, Patricia Dillmon, Brenda Jarrett, and Crimson Shults, reviewed 70 nominations to select the finalists.

Artist Gary Kingcade demonstrates a jewelry making technique using glass and copper for children from YMCA Child Care during a visit to the Kemp Center for the Arts.
Artist Gary Kingcade demonstrates a jewelry making technique using glass and copper for children from YMCA Child Care during a visit to the Kemp Center for the Arts.

Finalists for the award categories are:

Outstanding Arts Educator

  • Gary Kingcade, Artist

  • Jessica B. Johnson, Wichita Falls ISD

  • Dr. Matthew Luttrell, MSU Texas

Luttrell
Luttrell

Business Champion of the Arts

  • Danny Martinez, Trueheart Brands, LLC.

  • KFDX/KJTL/Texoma's Homepage

  • 9th Street Studios

The Maker

  • Katie Britt, Katiedid Designz

  • Court Glenn, Embroidery Artist

The Wichita Falls Youth Symphony Orchestra
The Wichita Falls Youth Symphony Orchestra

Inclusion Advancement Award

  • 9th Street Studios

  • Sigma Lambda Alpha Sorority, Inc

  • Wichita Falls Youth Symphony Orchestra

Zavala Art and Culture Committee members perform during the Zavala Heritage 5k Bull Run as shown in this July 25, 2021, file photo. Zavala Hispanic Cultural Initiative is a finalist for an Arts and Culture Empowerment Award.
Zavala Art and Culture Committee members perform during the Zavala Heritage 5k Bull Run as shown in this July 25, 2021, file photo. Zavala Hispanic Cultural Initiative is a finalist for an Arts and Culture Empowerment Award.

Distinguished Cultural Organization

  • Arts Council Wichita Falls Area, Inc.

  • Zavala Hispanic Cultural Initiative

  • Wichita Falls Symphony Orchestra

Distinguished Artist of the Year

  • Mishic and Val Liberatore, Wichita Falls Ballet

  • Morgan Mallory, MSU Texas

  • Kim Ward, The Artistry

People walk around and vote on the finished works from the first round of Art Battle Wichita Falls Saturday, June 22, 2019, inside The Warehouse.
People walk around and vote on the finished works from the first round of Art Battle Wichita Falls Saturday, June 22, 2019, inside The Warehouse.

Margie J. Reese Innovation Award

  • Bob Barrow & Art Battle

  • Ismael Duran, Potencia Projects

  • Adam Lynskey, Wichita Christian School

Mayor's Choice Award will be announced at the event.

This article originally appeared on Wichita Falls Times Record News: Arts & Cultural Empowerment Award nominees announced