Recognition & Annual Awards

Each year, members have the opportunity to recognize the managers, artists, agents, presenters, organizations and individuals who have made and continue to make significant contributions to the performing arts. Please take the time to recognize your peers for their hard work and dedication.  After nominations are compiled, a peer panel of members reviews the submissions and determines that year's award recipients.

You must be a member of Arts Presenters to nominate an individual or organization for a Member Award, but your nominee does not have to be a member as long as that person or institution has displayed a commitment to the performing arts that has affected the field in profound and lasting ways.

Award of Merit
for achievement in the performing arts

Awarded to an individual whose genius, energy and excellence have defined or redefined an art form for today's audiences. In previous years, organizations, which had a profound and lasting effect on the performing arts, also were eligible for this award.

Sidney R. Yates Advocacy Award
for outstanding advocacy on behalf of the performing arts

The Sidney R. Yates Advocacy Award honors an individual or an organization, for a particular advocacy effort, or for a sustained advocacy campaign at the national, state or local level that has had a significant impact on the performing arts. The award honors the late Congressman Sidney R. Yates, whose commitment to the arts was legendary and who continues to serve as an inspiration to all of us.

Fan Taylor Distinguished Service Award
for exemplary service to the field of professional presenting

The Fan Taylor Distinguished Service Award is presented to an individual whose outstanding service, creative thinking and leadership have had a significant impact on the profession of presenting and/or on the Association of Arts Presenters. This award honors Fan Taylor for her many contributions to the field of presenting. Ms.Taylor was instrumental in the development of what was then called the Association of College and University Concert managers. She served as Arts Presenters' first secretary-treasurer and eventually as the first executive director.

William Dawson Award for Programmatic Excellence
for sustained achievement in programming

The William Dawson Award for Programmatic Excellence is presented to an individual or organization for their quality, innovation and vision of program design, audience building and community involvement efforts. The award is named to honor William M. Dawson for the service he provided to the field of arts administration during his 14 years as Director of the Association of College, University and Community Arts Administrators (ACUCAA) now known the Association of Performing Arts Presenters.