2011 Mayor's Arts Award Recipients:

• The ArtScene Backstage Award will be presented to William Stibor. This award honors extraordinary service to the arts through behind the scenes efforts. This award is sponsored by A to Z Printing.

• The Artistic Achievement Award- Visual Arts will be presented to Judith Burton. The award recognizes excellence and accomplishment in any of the visual arts.

• The Artistic Achievement Award- Performing Arts will be presented to Dan Stratman. The award recognizes excellence and accomplishment in any of the performing arts and is sponsored by Farmers Mutual Insurance Company of Nebraska.

• The Artistic Achievement Award - Youth will be presented to visual artist Madeline Cass. The award recognizes excellence and accomplishment in any arts discipline by a young person age 18 or younger and is sponsored by Lucy Buntain Comine.

• The Arts Organization Award will be presented to MEDICI, a friends group in support of the Department of Art and Art History at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. The award recognizes an arts group that has made significant contributions to Lincoln's arts community over a period of years and is sponsored by Runza®.

• The Outstanding Event Award will be presented to the “Textiles and Settlement: From Plains Space to Cyber Space,” the Textile Society of America’s 12th Biennial Symposium.  The award recognizes a performance, exhibition, event or project in the previous year that will be notable in the community memory for years to come and is sponsored by Joe and Judye Ruffo.

• The Gladys Lux Education Award will be presented to Ann Gradwohl. The award recognizes special initiatives in or dedication to arts education and is sponsored by the Gladys Lux Foundation.

• The Halcyon Allsman Benefactor of the Arts Award will be presented to Bets and Larry Frederick. The award honors an individual, family, organization or business making significant financial contributions to the arts in Lincoln and is sponsored by Wells Fargo, N.A..

• The Oliva Family "Arts for Kids" Award will be presented to Jason Schmit for his work as Program Director at the Northeast Family Center's Academy of Rock. The award honors an individual or organization from outside of the arts professions whose leadership has enhanced arts activities and experiences for children. It is sponsored by the Giacomo and Dorothy Oliva Family.

• The Heart of the Arts Award will be presented to Don Gill, a member of the Nebraska Broadcasters Hall of Fame, for his leadership of the Lincoln Municipal Band, his NET radio show featuring big band music and his many other volunteer activities, This award recognizes individuals or organizations for outstanding volunteer dedication to the arts or for making a major overall impact on the arts in Lincoln. The award is being sponsored by Talent Plus, Inc.

• The Literary Heritage Award will be presented to Jim McKee and Linda Hillegass. The award recognizes a writer or an individual or group who promotes excellence in writing and literature in Nebraska and is sponsored by the Nebraska Literary Heritage Association.

• The Mayor's Choice Award will be presented to Becky Boesen and "In My Daughter's Name". The award is sponsored by Cline, Williams, Wright, Johnson & Oldfather, L.L.P.

• The Kimmel Foundation Award will be presented to Anne Burton (visual artist) and Jennifer Bryan (writer). The award recognizes an emerging visual artist and writer and includes a two-week residency at the Kimmel Harding Nelson Center for the Arts plus a $1000 stipend, and is sponsored by The Richard P. Kimmel and Laurine Kimmel Charitable Foundation.