Annually DAAC recognizes individuals and organizations who are actively involved in promoting and enhancing the arts through leadership, support, participation and advocacy.
THE PAPEN FAMILY AWARD honors an individual who has demonstrated his or her commitment to the arts through leadership, service and/or financial support. The award, originally called the Mesilla Valley Treasure Award and later The Julie Papen Arts Patron Award, was renamed in 1997 to honor the late Senator Frank Papen and the Papen family, whose dedicated leadership, involvement and support of the arts has so richly served and benefited our community.
This award is annually sponsored by Glenn Cutter’s Jewelry and Gallery. Past recipients of the Papen Family Award include: Mark Medoff (2000), Irene Oliver Lewis (2001), Judith Finch (2002), Ruth Cantrell (2003), Jack Ward (2004), Keith Wilson (2005), Bishop Ricardo Ramirez (2006), Rosemary McLoughlin (2007) and Jo-an Smith (2008)
THE DEBI TRUE ROUNDS NEWCOMERS AWARD recognizes leadership and support of the arts by an individual who has lived in Doña Ana County for less than five years. Past recipients include: Kathe Stark (2000), Lonnie Klein (2001), Alice Peden (2002), Sylvia Gibson Bowers (2003), Tom Smith (2004), Laurel Weathersbee (2005), Paco Antonio & Lucilene de Gues (2006), Ouida Touchon (2007) and Cheryl & Brian Fallstead (2008).
THE ARTS IN EDUCATION AWARD, created in 1997, serves to recognize individuals, whose leadership and pioneering spirit promotes and shapes visual, performing and literary arts education initiatives, which benefit youth. Arts in Education recipients include: John Schutz (2000), Terry Alvarez (2001), Leslie Kowalski (2002), Constance Hasapopoulos Suter (2003), Raul Dorn (2004), Debra Knapp (2005) and Diane Schutz (2006), Laurie Norman (2007) and Lesli Zerr (2008).
THE COMMUNITY ARTS AWARD distinguishes an individual possessing the highest standards of motivation, service and who, by example, has made a marked impact on the cultural fabric of our community. The award was created in 1999 and recipients of this award include: Bob Burns (1999), Bob & Yvette Peticolas (2000), Kevin & Michelle Self (2001), Jose Tena (2002), Bob Diven (2003), Dr. Jerry Ann Alt (2004), Ceil & Peter Herman (2005) and Jim Billings (2006), Jim Pleasant, Joseph Sylvan and Barbara Toth (2007) and The Border Book Festival/The Cultural Center of Mesilla (2008).
THE ART IN PUBLIC PLACES AWARD was created in 2003, recognizes an individual who has created or placed art on permanent public view in Doña Ana County that exemplifies the highest standards and commitment to art in public places. Recipients of this award are the City of Las Cruces & the NM Department of Transportation & Highways (2003), Tracy Jamison (2004), Zandra Santanova (2005) and Ken Barrick (2006), Jackie Clark (2007) and Anthony Pennock (2008).
THE COLLABORATIVE ORGANIZATIONAL ARTS AWARD was created in 2006 to recognize a unique collaboration between two or more groups on an public art project. Alma d’Arte / Court Youth Center and Las Esperanzas were the initial winners.
THE EXCELLENCE IN PUBLIC SERVICE TO THE ARTS AWARD is our newest award, recognizing outstanding contributions by individuals or government organizations for their contribution in the arts. This award is open to federal, state and local government and is sponsored by Steve Newby Architects.
The Arts Awards Gala has traditionally been held during the late May or early June, so nomination forms are characteristically due in the DAAC office by mid-May. Call the DAAC office at (575) 523-6403 for more specific deadlines.