The Arts United Awards presentation is Northeast Indiana’s premier celebration of the people, organizations, and businesses that make significant contributions through arts and culture to communities throughout our region. 

2022 Arts United Awards
Presented by Ruoff Mortgage

Over the last four decades, Arts United has recognized hundreds of individuals and organizations through our annual arts and culture awards. Now known as the Arts United Awards, this presentation is Northeast Indiana’s premier celebration of the people, organizations, and businesses that make significant contributions through arts and culture to communities throughout our region.

The 2022 Arts United Awards are generously supported by Ruoff Mortgage. Thank you, Ruoff!

Watch the 2022 Arts United Awards

Join us in celebrating the recipients of the 2022 Arts United Awards and learn more about their contributions. Watch Fort Wayne’s NBC program for the 2022 Arts United Awards presentation here.

2022 Nominees
*award recipients

Nomination Information

Eligibility

Nominees should be individuals, teams, and/or organizations who are making artistic and cultural contributions to one or more communities located within the 12-county region of Northeast Indiana that includes Adams, Allen, DeKalb, Huntington, Kosciusko, LaGrange, Miami, Noble, Steuben, Wabash, Wells, and Whitley counties.

Examples of previous award recipients include:

  • Advocates
  • Artists
  • Board Members
  • Businesses
  • Collaborations
  • Communities
  • Educators
  • Leaders
  • Neighborhoods
  • Organizations
  • Philanthropists
  • Schools
  • Staff Members
  • Volunteers
  • …and anyone else who adds value to arts and culture in our community!

Areas of Recognition

In 2021, Arts United shifted away from specific award categories in order to recognize as many outstanding nominees as possible. Some categories will remain – such as the Margaret Ann Keegan Award for Arts Education, or Lifetime Achievement – but the Selection Committee will work diligently to honor those individuals based on a separate set of criteria. There’s nothing extra you need to do in the nomination process!

However, the 2022 Awards will specifically highlight:

  • IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access) – Recognizing individuals, teams, and organizations that demonstrate significant work in Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access.
  • Innovation, Creativity, and/or Artistry – Recognizing individuals, teams, and organizations that contribute to the communities of Northeast Indiana in ways that are especially innovative and/or creative, as well as those who demonstrate exceptional artistry within their medium of art.
  • Leadership – Recognizing individuals, teams, and/or organizations that demonstrate extraordinary leadership, advocacy, philanthropy, or volunteerism.
  • Arts Education and Community Engagement – Recognizing individuals, teams, and/or organizations that make an exceptional contribution to the people they serve through arts or cultural programming.

When crafting your nomination, be sure to highlight any accomplishments the nominee had in one or more of these areas throughout 2021!

Evaluation Criteria

Nominations are reviewed by an all-volunteer committee of community members using any of the following criteria:

  • Extent to which the nominee embodies one or more Areas of Recognition
  • Significance of the contribution and/or achievement
  • Breadth and/or depth of the population served
    Tip: Does the contribution / achievement broadly affect a wide portion of the population, or deeply affect a narrower portion of the population?
  • Degree of creativity and/or innovation

Past Recipients

See past Arts United Award recipients