Steven Roth and Thai-Ian Tran*
Obelisk Award Luncheon Co-Chairs Thai-Ian Tran and Steve Roth have just announced the luncheon keynote speaker and the recipients of the 2017 Obelisk Awards that is annually presented by Business Council For The Arts.
Addressing the group of art lovers will be Nasher Haemisegger Fellow for the National Center for Arts Research and former Brooklyn Academy of Music President Karen Brooks Hopkins.
As for the Obelisk Awardees, this year’s collection of outstanding art supporters are:
- The Arts Partnership Award recognizes businesses that have provided sustained support to an arts/cultural organization for three or more years.
- Large Business (more than 500 employees locally) — Target nominated by Nasher Sculpture Center.
- Medium Business (between 50 and 500 employees locally) — Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, Richardson nominated by AIR (Arts Incubator of Richardson).
- Small Business (fewer than 50 employees locally) — Angelika Film Center – Dallas nominated by Video Association of Dallas
- The New Initiatives Award recognizes businesses for supporting an innovative arts/cultural program created within the past three years.
- Large Business (more than 500 employees locally) — Corgan nominated by Creative Arts Center
- Medium Business (between 50-500 employees locally) — West Village nominated by: Dallas Film Society
- Small Business (fewer than 50 employees locally) — C.C. Communications, LLC nominated by Esta Raza No Se Raja
Nancy Carlson (File photo)
Keith Cerny (File photo)
- The Distinguished Cultural Organization Award is given to recognize one outstanding nonprofit organization for a project or program that has enhanced the community through partnership with a business. — The Cliburn nominated by The Arts Council of Fort Worth/Neiman Marcus
- The Business Champion for the Arts Award recognizes long-term leadership and commitment to arts/culture by a business executive (president, CEO, partner). — Nancy Carlson nominated by TACA
- The Visionary Nonprofit Arts Leader Award recognizes an arts leader who has consistently demonstrated vision, impact, innovation, and successful alignment with business and community partners throughout their tenure. — Keith Cerny nominated by Deutsche Bank Trust Co., NA/ Deutsche Bank Wealth Management.
- The Arts Education Award recognizes one outstanding business for its support of arts education programs. — Neiman Marcus Group nominated by Big Thought and Dallas Black Dance Theater
- The Lifetime Achievement Award recognizing lifetime advancement of the arts. — Ask Me About Art/Gail Sachson nominated by Carolyn Brown Photography
- The Community Champion Award recognizing community arts advancement — Kathy Litinas nominated by Allen Arts Alliance
According to Business Council For The Arts CEO Katherine Wagner, “This year’s Obelisk honorees reflect the significant growth of the arts regionally – a fact underscored in our recent economic impact study, showing that the nonprofit arts and culture sector has now reached an impact of $1.5 billion annually in North Texas.”
Katherine Wagner (File photo)
Mary Anne Alhadeff (File photo)
Ryan Anthony (File photo)
The awards will be presented on Wednesday, November 15, at Belo Mansion with returnees KERA President/CEO Mary Anne Alhadeff as emcee and Dallas Symphony Orchestra Principal Trumpet Ryan Anthony onstage.
Tickets start at $150 and are available here!
* Photo provided by Business Council For The Arts