Eugene Arts & Letters Award

The Eugene Arts & Letters Award recognizes an individual who has significantly contributed to the enrichment of Eugene’s cultural life through their work as a visual, performing, or literary artist. The award was established by Lee and Hester Bishop supported by the Arts Foundation of Western Oregon Fund of The Oregon Community Foundation.

Eligibility

Eligible candidates must:

• Be a local (the greater Eugene area) visual, performing, or literary artist.
• Be currently practicing their art form.

Selection Criteria

Nominators must complete an official nomination form based on the following criteria:

• Candidates have contributed to the enrichment of cultural life through their involvement in the arts.
• Candidates are established and active in their art form, with priority given to artists practicing locally for 10 or more years.
• Candidates have committed time to volunteer work in the arts.
• Candidates’ expertise is actively put to good use for the arts community.

Selection Process

Winners are selected by a committee of past winners and ABAE board members. Nominations typically open in January or February, and close in March. The award is presented by the Mayor of Eugene at the spring BRAVA event in June.

Eugene Arts and Letters Award Winner (2019)

Alito Alessi

Alito Alessi is the Artistic Director of DanceAbility International & Joint Forces Dance Company and founder of the DanceAbility method, which is the leading method of inclusive dance pedagogy in the world and has served to bring more people into the field of mixed abilities dance than any other program that exists.

Past Recipients of the Eugene Arts and Letters Award:

2019
Alito Alessi

2018
Cecelia Hagen and Craig Spilman

2017
Michael Anderson

2016
Dottie Chase

2015
Shirley Andress

2014
Bob Welch

2013
Helmuth Rilling

2012
Betsy Wolfston

2011
Paul Biondi

2010
Jan Eliot

2009
Steve Stone

2008
Fred Crafts

2007
Judy Wenger

2006
Mark Clarke and Peg Coe

2005
Diane Retallack

2004
Victor Steinhardt

2003
William L. Sullivan

2002
David Joyce

2001
Miguel-Harth Bedoya

2000
Anne Dhu McLucas

1999
John Rose

1998
David Sherman

1994
Marin Alsop
Barry Lopez
Anne Kutka McCosh
Oregon Bach Festival

1990
Max and Hattie Mae Nixon
John Stafford
James Toland
Dorothy Velasco

1989
Robert D. Clark
Brian Lanker
Lotte Streisinger
Jerry Williams

1988
Richard M. Long
Northwest Review

1987
Oregon Mozart Players

1986
Ken Kesey
Claire Trotter

1985
Edmond Cykler
LaVerne Krause

1984
Philip Bayles
Riley Grannan
Toni Pimble
Jan Zach

1983
Ed Ragozzino
Royce Saltzman
Very Little Theatre

1982
Lawrence Maves
Horace Robinson