10/01/2025
NOMINATIONS ARE OPEN!
It's time once again to nominate the amazing people and organizations that are helping make Kansas a GREAT place to live! The 2026 Kansas Governor's Arts Awards nominations are being accepted through October 31, 2025.
You can play a vital role in maintaining strong arts and culture in Kansas by telling us who has been going above and beyond!
To nominate a person, business, organization, or community, you will complete the 2026 Governor's Arts Award nomination form (find a link in the comments).
We recommend working with the person or entity you are nominating to gather relevant materials and information.
After submitting the nomination, there may be more materials we need you or the nominee to provide. There will be a limited time to submit those materials, so please pay attention to deadlines.
The awards ceremony is tentatively scheduled for early February in Topeka.
Here are the categories for nomination:
Arts Advocate of the Year – An individual who actively works to educate the public and/or government at local, state, or national levels on the value and impact of the arts.
Arts Community of the Year – A city, town, neighborhood, or community recognized for its strong support and integration of the arts in local culture.
Arts Leader of the Year – An individual demonstrating extraordinary leadership and vision in advancing the arts.
Arts Organization of the Year – An organization recognized for exemplary work in the arts, whether through significant artistic achievement or substantial contributions to the growth and vitality of the arts.
Arts Patron of the Year – An individual who generously supports the arts through financial contributions, in-kind donations, or dedicated volunteer efforts, without being directly involved as an artist or administrator.
Emerging Arts Leader of the Year – An early-career professional who exhibits leadership and significant potential for future impact in the arts.
Emerging Arts Organization of the Year – A newly established or developing organization making significant strides in the arts and growing in influence.
Excellence in Arts Education – An educator, arts education program, or organization recognized for long-term excellence and innovation in arts education.
Excellence in the Arts in Business – A business or corporation demonstrating outstanding and sustained support of the arts.
Excellence in Public Service in the Arts – A government official at the local, state, or federal level who has shown exceptional support and advocacy for the arts.
Kansas Arts Legacy Award – an individual or organization with a lifetime of long-standing, significant impact on the arts in Kansas and/or beyond, enriching the cultural landscape through artistic achievements, leadership, philanthropy, or advocacy over many years. This award may be given posthumously.
Excellence in Artistic Achievement in:
• Dance
• Literature (includes all creative writing forms)
• Media Arts (includes film, video, audio, kinetic digital arts, interactive media, and other related forms)
• Music
• Theatre
• Visual Arts (includes painting, sculpture, photography, printmaking, drawing, crafts, public art, and other related forms)
• Other Art Forms
We can't wait to hear about the incredible work Kansans are doing to lift up the arts!
