Arts Awards Celebration -- "Celebrating those who celebrate the arts!"

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​The 2023 Arts Awards Celebration will be Sunday, May 21.

CLICK HERE TO NOMINATE!

Watch here for more information about the 2023 ceremony.


​You are invited to nominate one or more special individuals (or organizations/businesses) for their outstanding efforts in the Ames arts community this year! This is a wonderful way to recognize volunteers, board members, and others for their time and effort.

  • The Hazel Hammer Cherished Volunteer Award is given to an individual who responds wholeheartedly to a variety of needs for an Ames art organization. This person does the mundane but important basic support work that allows the organization to function and does that work for the long-term

    Hazel Hammer was the consummate volunteer.  Her energies were devoted to the arts.  ACAC, Ames Choral Society, ACTORS and many more organizations, including the Unitarian Fellowship, were indebted to her.  If there was a job to be done Hazel would do it. Sometimes – often actually – it was the job no one else wanted to tackle.  She understood that it was doing the mundane chores that kept organizations operating and growing.  She firmly believed that involvement in the arts could change your life.  Hazel was soft-spoken and a little shy, but when it came to the arts, she could ask people to do things that needed to be done
 
  • The Bill Pelz Arts Advocacy Award is for that person who generates enthusiasm for Ames arts events by taking every opportunity to promote and encourage participation at any and all levels: as an audience member, as a performer or as a behind-the-scenes volunteer.

    Bill Pelz was one of Ames’ most enthusiastic arts advocates.  During his tenure as Mayor of Ames from 1974-1975, he hosted the first fund raising event for ACTORS to obtain its building on Abraham Drive.  As mayor, Bill created the Ames Community Arts Council.  Today there are six board members and six representatives of member organizations.  Originally this body acted as an advisory group to the city council for funding arts organizations with revenue sharing funds available from the federal government.  Then and now ACAC serves as a coordinating and advocacy organization for the arts in Ames.
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  • The Distinguished Board Member Award celebrates a board member of an ACAC participating organization who fulfills his/her volunteer commitment with loyalty, inspiration and imagination. The award recognizes the essential role that board members play in the vitality of any organization.
 
  • The Art in the Workplace Award recognizes a profit, non-profit or governmental organization in Ames that incorporates the arts into the work place in such a way that learning or appreciation by employees, patrons or customers is encouraged. This could include visual or performing arts, a program in the workplace, or support of events outside the work place.
 
  •  The Lemonade-from-Lemons Creativity Award is given to an ACAC participating member or organization that met adversity with spunk and vigor or that responded to needs and demands in a particularly unique or creative way.
 
  • The Local Treasure Award is a living, practicing artist or group of artists residing in Ames. These individuals or ensembles should demonstrate the highest quality of achievement in their field or form of artistic expression and should also have demonstrated a broad community impact through what they do.
 
  • Art Educator Award is given to an educator in the greater Ames community who identifies, encourages, instructs, and promotes the arts (visual, dance, music, drama, and creative writing) in an exemplary manner.
 
  • Veronika Ruedenberg Cultural Entrepreneur Award is meant for a community-minded pioneer who has shown the vision and courage to break ground for some new institution for the enrichment of Ames’ cultural life, creating something where there was nothing.

    Veronika Ruedenberg was an inspiration to many. She supported individual creative efforts in those who wanted to try something new, regardless of how unusual or difficult. She was open-minded and encouraged this in others. Her good intuition, her unflinching good will, her selfless enthusiasm and her confidence in other people, made her an effective cultural pioneer and the institutions she built up grew and prospered long after she was gone. She was living proof of the joy in the creative journey, rather than the safety of the bandwagon.
 
  • Lifetime Achievement Award is given to an artist or artists who have demonstrated a lifelong commitment to the arts in Ames by freely sharing their outstanding talents and making a significant impact in the community.​
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Note: The Selection Committee is composed of Arts Council Board members who reserve the right to make awards in those categories where adequate nominations have been received.
Past Award Recipients*

Hazel Hammer Cherished Volunteer Award
Dennis Wendell (2022)
​Caroline Freese (2021)
Jim & Diane Patton (2020)​
​Ben Smith (2019)
​Barbara Schendel (2018)
​Tara Gartin (2017)
​Rae Reilly (2017)
Ruth Wiedemeier (2016)
Jodi Melcher (2015)
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Hazel Hammer Award for Community Support
Cinian Zheng-Durbin (2014)
Carroll & Fidella Marty (2013)
Margaret (Peg) Johnson (2012)
Dilys Morris (2011)
Karl Gwiasda (2010)
Jim Wilcox (2009)
Kathy Stevens (2008)
Stan Rabe (2007)
Roger Berger (2006)
Chris & Anna Christofferson (2005)
Dorothy Tschopp McGee (2004)
Marianne Chalstrom (2003)
Pam Schwab (2002)
Dan & Suzy Zaffarano (2001)
Anita Beal (2000)
Dennis Lindeman (1999)
Kathy Svec (1998)
Sylvia McCormick (1997)

Distinguished Board Member Award
Jim Popken (2022)
​Eric Weber (2021)
Kitty Fisher (2020)
Lynn McElrath (2019)
​Marilyn Johnson (2018)
Tom Mohr (2017)
​Laura Jordan (2016)
​Jane Kennedy-Funk (2015)
Tom Jackson (2014)
Ronell (Ronnie) Lindeman (2013)
Peggy Earnshaw (2012)
Lori Sulzberger (2011)
Dario Zaffarano (2010)
Troy Rutter (2009)
Leslie Kawaler (2008)
Lee Anne Willson (2007)
Skip Walter (2006)
Danny Faga (2005)
Willa Holger (2004)
Charles Cumming (posthumous, 2003)
Rue Ann Sams (2003)
Rollie & Willie Struss (2002)
Verne Bates (2001)
Peggy Earnshaw (2000)
Dottie Tschopp (1999)
Keith Wirtz (1998)
Marilee Mertins (1997)

Doug Brown Media Award
Ronna Faaborg (2021
​Carol Kisling (2014)
KHOI Community Radio (2013)
Mel Crippin (2012)
Mollie Cooney (2011)
Lauris Olson (2010)
Darryl Bennett (2009)
Karen Bryan (2008)
The Tribune (2007)
Art Scene (2006)
Iowa State Daily (2005)
Des Moines Register Ames Life and Times (2003)
Carole Horowitz (2002)
Jane Bullock (2001)
Rachel Jeffries (2000)
Mel Crippen (1999)
Ames Tribune (1998)
WOI Radio (1997)

Local Treasure Award
Rubin Ruiz (2022)
Michael Londra (2021)
Mary Richard (2020)
​Molly McDonald (2019)
​Sara Merritt (2018)
​Jonathan Sturm (2017)
Dallas Thies (2016)
​Paul Hertz (2015)
Clark Ford (2014)
Greg Lamont (2013)
Brad Dell (2012)
Ames Piano Quartet (2011)
Laverna Larson (2010)
Cay Peet (2009)
Richard Wood (2008)
James Okey (2007)
Mary Weisgram (2006)
Laurence Burkhalter (2005)
Paula Forrest (2004)
Mark Laycock (2003)
Homer Gartz (2003)
Jane Cox (2003)
Jean Thomas (2002)
M. Button Drexler (2002)
Annette Rowley (2001)
Valerie Williams (2000)
Jo Myers-Walker (1999)
Carmon Slater (1998)
Steve Hoifeldt (1997)
Bill Pelz Arts Advocacy Award
Michael Golemo (2022)
Jennifer Drinkwater (2021)
Steve Bellin (2020)
Sara Compton (2019)
​Jennifer Knox (2018)
​Jim Coppoc (2017)
​Rhonda Scott (2016)
Mike and Myra Jackson (2015)
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Bill Pelz Spirit Award
Letitia Kenemer (2014)
Warren Madden (2013)
Lynn Lloyd (2012)
Dorothy Timmons (2011)
Laverna Larsen (2010)
Mike King (2009)
Linda & Bernie White (2008)
Tom Norris (posthumous, 2007)
Sandra McJimsey (2006)
Don DoBell (2005)
Beverly Wandling (posthumous, 2004)
Kathryn Andre (2003)
Dorothy Gugel (2002)
Chuck Jones (2001)
Susan Norris (2000)
Carole Horowitz (1999)
Betty Toman (1998)
Dee Hegstrom (1997)

Art in the Workplace Award
Green Hills Community (2021)
Northcrest Community (2019)
​Morning Bell Coffee Roasters (2018)
​Alluvial Brewing Company (2017)
Ames Chamber of Commerce (2016)
Sonya Stoltze-Newstrom / Stoltze & Stoltze Family Dentistry (2015)
Wheatsfield Cooperative (2014)
Ruthann O’Brien Hadish (2013)
Pat Brown (2012)
Don Wishart (2011)
Prairie Moon Winery (2010)
Lynette Pohlman (2009)
Reiman Gardens (2008)
Friedrich Iowa Realty (2007)
ISU Memorial Union (2006)
Cafe Diem (2005)
US Bank (2004)
Stomping Grounds (2003)
McFarland Clinic PC (2002)
Unitarian Fellowship (2001)
Story County Conservation Board (2000)
ISU Credit Union (1999)
First Edition (1998)
Mary Greeley Medical Center (1997)

Lemonade from Lemons Creativity Award
Story Theater Company (2022)
M-Shop Performing Arts Committee (2021)
Susan Gant (2020)
​Steven Nissen (2014)
Reiman Gardens (2013)
Joyce Vegge (2012)
Octagon Center for the Arts (2011)
Susan Norris (2010)
Nancy Brousard (2009)
Main Street Cultural District (2007)
Ames Historical Society (2005)
Children’s Museum of Center Iowa (2002)
Octagon Center for the Arts (2001)
Ames Heritage Association (2000)
Sue Haug for AIOFA (1999)
Central Iowa Symphony (1998)
ACTORS (1997)

Art Educator Award
Cason Murphy (2022)
​Jordan Brooks (2021)
Cappie Dobyns (2021)
James Webb (2020)
Amanda Petefish-Schrag (2020)
Anthony Stevens (2019)
Laurie Olk (2018)
​Molly Nagel (2017)
​Lisa Rich-McKelvey (2016)
​Mark Stoltenberg (2015)
Terrie Hoefer (2014)
Lisa Victoria (2013)
Matt Foss (2012)
Nancy Girard (2011)
Tim Read (2010)
Jeffrey Prater (2009)
Joe Muench (2008)
Richard Heggen (2007)
Cheri Schloerke (2006)
Cynthia Marten (2005)
Sylvia Munsen (2004)

Cherished Volunteer Award
Don & Dee Draper (2014)
Barbara Walton (2013)
Gerald Kline (2012)
Jack Maudin (2011)

Veronika Ruedenberg Cultural Entrepreneur Award
Reliable Street / Lockwwood Cafe (2020)
​Rachel & Bryon Dudley (2019)
Creative Artists' Studio of Ames / Lee Anne Willson (2016)
Ames C.art / Kristin Roach, Lyndsay Nissen, & Tiberiu Chelcea (2015)
Maximum Ames / Nate Logsdon & Chris Lyng (2014)

Lifetime Achievement Award
Barbara Evenson (2022)
​Ken Cameron (2021)
Alice Thompson (2020)
​Jim Okey (2020)
Mark Forbis (2019)
​Priscilla Sage (2018)
​Carole Horowitz (2017)
Roger Berger (2016)
​Chuck Jones (2015)
Loren & Marjorie Muench (2014)
* The Arts Awards were restructured in 2015. Some categories were combined.