Nominees Chosen for 21st Annual Business in the Arts Awards

Arts organizations, businesses and individuals from across the Valley have been nominated for the 21th annual Business in the Arts Awards recognizing outstanding achievements, collaborations and contributions to and for arts organizations in metro Phoenix.

Honorees will be announced at the Business in the Arts Awards Breakfast on Wednesday, Aug. 17 from 7 to 9:30 a.m. at The Doubletree Paradise Valley Resort, 5401 N. Scottsdale Road.
Winners will receive a specially created award by Buckeye artist Catherine Ruane (www.catherineruane.com), whose drawings and paintings reflect her careful observations of what she regards as "saturated with wonder." The awards are graphite and charcoal drawings of palm trees in Phoenix.

The nominees are:
• Large Business Partner of the Year (recognizing a business of 1,000 or more employees for creative and innovative support of the arts in the greater metropolitan Phoenix area): Bank of America and Rural Metro/Southwest Ambulance.

• Small Business Partner of the Year (for a business with up to 499 employees): Canyon Records, Phoenix; Changing Hands Bookstore, Tempe; ON Media, Phoenix; Salt River Solar and Wind, Surprise.

• Arts Organization of the Year (recognizing a nonprofit arts and cultural organization that has demonstrated exemplary achievement in fulfilling its mission, community impact and managerial strength): Arizona 5 Arts Circle, Scottsdale; Arizona Magic of Music and Dance, Fountain Hills; ASU Art Museum, Tempe; AZ Dance Group, Cave Creek; Desert Sounds Performing Arts, Inc., Chandler; Free Arts for Abused Children of Arizona, Phoenix; and Phoenix Film Foundation, Phoenix.

• Arts Advocate of the Year (recognizing a business, civic, community or arts leader who has demonstrated exemplary leadership and support of the arts and cultural community, significantly impacting one or more arts organizations, or the arts community in general): James Covarrubias, Harold Dorenbecher, Amy Douglas, Jeff Evers, Howard Hirsch, Vern Mathern, Diane Goullard Parlante, Esther Vandecar.

• Arts Board Member of the Year (recognizing the exceptional service, commitment and contributions of a board member to the arts and cultural organization on which he or she serves): Timothy Berg (Arizona Theater Center), Zelda Faigen (Arizona Theatre Company), Katy Heth (Rosie's House), Dr. Thomas Hudak (Scottsdale Artist School).

Tickets for the Business in the Arts Awards are $60 each for arts and cultural organizations and $90 each for professionals and businesses. Table sponsorships begin at $600 for arts and cultural organizations and $850 for corporate tables. Raffle tickets are $20 each and 6 for $100. Event and raffle tickets can be purchased online at www.abcannualawardsbreakfast.org.