The Tempe Arts & Culture Awards celebrate excellence in arts and culture by recognizing individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to arts and culture in Tempe. 

The awards are a partnership between the Tempe Arts & Culture Commission and the City of Tempe.

Arts & Culture Award Guidelines PDF 

2024 Awardees:

CULTURAL CONNECTOR: Tony Duncan (Performing Artist and Cultural Activist)
HISTORY HERO: Darlene Justus (Community Volunteer and Activist)
COMMUNITY IMPACTER: Kim DeMeritt (Director of Events - Downtown Tempe Authority)
ARTISTIC ENGAGEMENT: Tempe Artists Guild
LOCAL MUSIC: Farmer Wilson

2023 Awardees:

ARTISTIC TRAILBLAZER: Dr Michael Willson (Founder - Tempe Symphonic Wind Ensemble; Director of Bands - McClintock High School)
COMMUNITY IMPACTER: Edward Wong (Community Volunteer and Activist)
CULTURAL CONNECTOR: Dan Thompson (Volunteer - Tempe History Museum)
CREATIVE ENTREPRENEUR: Kara Roschi (Founder - Tuning Fork)
TEMPE CHAMPION: Peggy Moroney (Tempe Historian and Story Teller; Community Volunteer and Tour Guide)

2022 Awardees:

Engaged Educator: Matt Dickson (Arts Instructor - New School for the Arts & Academics)
Community Impacter: Travis Furnald (Lead singer - Japhy's Descent)
Cultural Connector: Mary Ann Kwilosz (Volunteer - Tempe History Museum)
Artistic Trailblazer: Carley Conder (Founder - CONDER/dance)

2021 Awardees:

Engaged Educator: Lisa Bernal-Brethour (Arts Instructor - Edna Arts Center)
Compassionate Responder: Angelica Little (Founder - Hot Lips Masks)
Community Impacter: Colleen Jennings-Roggensack (Executive Director - ASU Gammage Auditorium)
Creative Entrepreneur: Sherrie Zeitlin (Founder - Art Resource Center)

2020 Awardees:

Cultural Connector: A Claire Slattery (DJ and community event organizer)
Engaged Educator: Paige Reesor (Arts Instructor - Gililland Middle School)
Community Impact: Callie Shutters (Art Masterpiece Chair- Broadmor Elementary)
Artistic Trailblazer: Ron May (Artistic Director - Stray Cat Theatre)

2019 Awardees:

Engaged Educator: Such Styles (Arts Instructor - TD3 Studio Artist Program; Graffiti Artist)
Creative Entrepreneur: Rodney Hu (Owner - Yucca Tap Room)
Community Impact: Gayle Shanks & Bob Sommer (Co-owners - Changing Hands Bookstore)
Cultural Connector: Evan Liggins (Founder - Tempe Art-a-Gogh-Gogh)
Innovation: FABRIC (Co-founders Angela Johnson & Sherri Barry)

Contact Joy Higgins with any questions or comments. joy_higgins@tempe.gov