celebrating the

arts

and

businesses

in our

community

We strive to ensure that artists and the arts always play a central role in our community. Recognizing the people and organizations who create and support art in all forms is one of the ways that we can highlight the importance and vitality of this sector.

Celebrating the

Arts

and

businesses

in Our

Community

We strive to ensure that artists and the arts always play a central role in our community. Recognizing the people and organizations who create and support art in all forms is one of the ways that we can highlight the importance and vitality of this sector.

Community Arts

Arts & Business Partnership Award

The Arts & Business Partnership Award recognizes innovative arts-business partnerships that positively impact the community, serve as a model for others, and effect significant mutual benefits for all parties involved.

The winner receives a promotional video about their partnership and a hand-crafted artisan plaque.

Since beginning in 2010, many inspiring partnerships have been recognized, including:

Eligible candidates must:

  • Be engaged in a mutually successful arts-business partnership.
  • Be based in the greater Eugene area.
  • Partnerships must include two more of the following:
    • Artists, arts groups, nonprofits
    • Local businesses
    • Educational institutions or public entities

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

  • Candidates have made a significant contribution to the arts through a successful collaboration.
  • Candidates have shown a commitment to empowering the community through the arts, and can demonstrate mutual benefits resulting from the partnership.

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 given annually, at the spring BRAVA event in June.

Past Recipients of the Arts & Business Partnership Award:
2023 – The Turell Group & The Hult Center for the Performing Arts
2022 – OSLP Arts & Culture Program and The Wheel Apizza Pub
2021 – Dean and Michele Smith and local artists
2020 – Marley’s Monster’s and upcycle designer Mitra Gruwell
2019 – Oregon Bach Festival & Bigfoot Beverages
2018 – ArtSpark: Rotary Club of Eugene, Lane Arts Council & the Eugene Education Foundation
2017 – Clay Space & FOOD For Lane County
2016 – ArtsDigital & Threadbare Print House | Mitra Chester & St. Vincent de Paul Society of Lane County | Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art & Imagination International Inc.
2015 – Eugene Opera & Downtown Eugene Merchants | The Shedd & the Eye Center | The Gallery at the Watershed and Andersen Construction
2014 – Oregon Supported Living Program & Dot Dotson’s | Light at Play & Concentric Sky | Upstart Crow Studios & Levi Strauss, Inc.
2013 – The Bijou Metro & Master Equity | Under 21 Blues Jam & Cozmic Pizza | MECCA & Pacific Real Estate
2012 – Local Musicians & Ninkasi Brewery | Young Writers Association & Tsunami Books | (sub)Urban Projections & City of Eugene
2011 – Eugene Storefront Art Project & Lorig Management Services
2010 – John G. Shedd Institute for the Arts & Isler CPA | The Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art & Kendall Subaru | The Gallery at the Airport Partnership & Eugene Airport

The Arts and Business Partnership Award recognizes innovative arts-business partnerships that positively impact the community, serve as a model for others, and effect significant mutual benefits for all parties involved.

Nominations are now closed.

Dave Hauser Business of the Year

The Dave Hauser Business of the Year Award recognizes a local business that has demonstrated consistent and significant support of the creation and presentation of art in our community. Candidates’ generosity helps ensure that local creativity and innovation will thrive, regardless of economic climate. Candidates continually set the standard for excellence and serve as a role model for others.

The winner receives a promotional video about their partnership and a hand-crafted artisan plaque.

Since beginning in 2017, the following local businesses have been recognized:

Eligible candidates must:

  • Be a business located in the greater Eugene area
  • Have had a significant role in empowering and building the arts sector
  • Have a visionary and innovative approach to championing the arts

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

  • Candidates demonstrate a deep understanding and appreciation of the arts
  • Candidates’ leadership may have affected several arts organizations in the community or be demonstrated by a longstanding commitment to one particular organization.
  • Candidates may have distinguished themselves as leaders in support of the arts either through a single endeavor or a consistent history of commitment.
  • Candidates’ history of support includes but is not limited to cash or in-kind gifts, donated services, volunteerism, and employee participation.
  • The scope of impact and support should extend beyond candidates’ immediate business interests

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 given annually, at the spring BRAVA event in June.

Past Recipients of the Dave Hauser Business of the Year Award:
2023 – Obie Companies
2022 – JLN Design
2021 – Emge & Whyte CPA’s
2020 – Euphoria Chocolate Company
2019 – Drawn
2018 – Imagination International Inc.
2017 – Essex General Construction

The Dave Hauser Business of the Year Award recognizes a local business that has demonstrated consistent and significant support of the creation and presentation of art in our community. Candidates’ generosity helps ensure that local creativity and innovation will thrive.

Nominations are now closed.

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.

Winner will receive $200 prize as well as a beautiful calligraphy quote of their choosing.

Since starting in 1982, many well-known figures in Eugene’s arts and business sectors have been recognized, including:

  • 2023 – Darcy DuRuz
  • 2022 – Stanley Coleman, Director & Actor
  • 2021 – Sharon Schuman, Musician & Arts Advocate
  • 2020 – Jud Turner, Artist
  • 2019 – Alito Alessi, Dancer & Artistic Director
  • 2018 – Cecelia Hagen & Craig Spilman, Author & Artist

Eligible candidates must:

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

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 have established and active in their art form, with priority given to artists practicing locally for 10 or more years.
  • Candidates have committed time to voluntary work for the arts
  • Candidates’ expertise is actively put to good use for the arts

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 given annually, at the spring BRAVA event in June.

Past Recipients of the Eugene Arts & Letters Award:
2023 – Darcy DuRuz
2022 – Stanley Coleman, Director & Actor
2021 – Sharon Schuman, Musician & Arts Advocate
2020 – Jud Turner, Artist
2019 – Alito Alessi, Dancer & Artistic Director
2018 – Cecelia Hagen & Craig Spilman, Author & Artist
2017 – Michael Anderson, Musician & Educator
2016 – Dottie Chase, Artist
2015 – Shirley Andress, Musician
2014 – Bob Welch, Writer
2013 – Helmuth Rilling, Conductor
2012 – Betsy Wolfston, Ceramic Artist
2011 – Paul Biondi, Musician
2010 – Jan Eliot, Cartoonist
2009 – Steve Stone, Musician & Educator
2008 – Fred Crafts, Arts Ambassador & Journalist
2007 – Judy Wenger, Theater Teacher
2006 – Mark Clarke & Peg Coe, Artists
2005 – Diane Retallack, Executive Director Eugene Concert Choir
2004 – Victor Steinhardt, Pianist
2003 – William L. Sullivan, Author
2002 – David Joyce, Artist
2001 – Miguel-Harth Bedoya, Conductor
2000 – Anne Dhu McLucas, Musician
1999 – John Rose, Artist
1998 – David Sherman, Theater Teacher
1994 – Marin Alsop, Conductor | Barry LopezAnne Kutka McCosh, Writer | Oregon Bach Festival
1990 – Max & Hattie Mae Nixon, Artists | John Stafford, Architect | James Toland, Singer | Dorothy Velasco, Playwright
1989 – Robert D. Clark, Historian | Brian Lanker, Photographer | Lotte Streisinger | Jerry Williams, Theatre Designer
1988 – Richard M. Long, Musician & Teacher | Northwest Review
1987 – Oregon Mozart Players
1986 – Ken Kesey, Author | Claire Trotter, Photographer
1985 – Edmond Cykler, Musician | LaVerne Krause, Artist & Teacher
1984 – Philip Bayles, Founder of Eugene Opera | Riley Grannan, Co-Founder of Eugene Ballet | Toni Pimble, Co-Founder of Eugene Ballet | Jan Zach, Sculptor
1983 – Ed Ragozzino, Theatre Director & Producer | Royce Saltzman, Founder & Executive Director of Oregon Bach Festival | Very Little Theatre
1982 – Lawrence Maves, Violinist | Horace Robinson, Theatre Director

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.

Nominations are now closed.

Fentress Award

The Fentress Award recognizes a local arts organization for exceptional work and achievement in the arts. Candidates are a vital part of the local arts ecosystem.

Winner will receive $200 prize as well as a beautiful calligraphy quote of their choosing.

Since starting in 1984, many notable local organizations have been recognized, including:

Eligible candidates must:

  • Be a local (greater Eugene area) arts organization, collective, or arts-focused business.

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

  • Scope, quality, and originality of the nominee’s programming or involvement with arts.
  • Impact on both arts and culture and the community.
  • Program innovation
  • Has created great awareness and significantly improved the community with measurable results.

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 given annually, at the spring BRAVA event in June.

Past Recipients of the Fentress Endowment Award:
2023 – #instaballet
2022 – Salseros Dance Company
2021 – Upstart Crow Studios Children’s Theatre
2020 – MECCA: Materials Exchange Center for Community Arts
2019 – Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art
2018 – Eugene Saturday Market
2017 – The John G. Shedd Institute for the Arts
2016 – New Zone Gallery
2015 – Lane Arts Council
2014 – Eugene Opera
2013 – Eugene Symphony Association
2012 – Maude Kerns Art Center
2011 – Actors Cabaret of Eugene
2010 – Downtown Initiative for the Visual Arts (DIVA)
2009 – Lane County Historical Society and Museum
2008 – Eugene Ballet Company
2007 – Caitriona Bolster of KWAX FM Radio
2006 – Lord Leebrick Theatre (Now Oregon Contemporary Theatre)
2005 – Eugene Glass School | Joint Forces Dance Company
2004 – Arts Umbrella (Now Eugene-Springfield Youth Orchestras)
2003 – YouthArts
2002 – Young Writers Association | Rose Children’s Theatre
2001 – The Jacobs Gallery | Lone Goose Press
2000 – Oregon Festival of American Music
1999 – Community Center for the Performing Arts – WOW Hall

The Fentress Award recognizes a local arts organization, collective, or arts-focused business for exceptional work and achievement in the arts. Candidates are a vital part of the local arts ecosystem. This honor was established by Carroll D. and Harriet Fentress. The award is made possible by the Fentress Endowment of the Oregon Community Foundation.

Nominations are now closed.