19th Annual Viola Awards
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Your contact information is kept confidential and will only be used for Viola Awards communications from staff to you.
Creative Flagstaff invites community members to submit nominations for the 19th Annual Viola Awards. Each year, the Viola Awards celebrate excellence in art, science, and culture.
Please read through the full list of award categories, descriptions, and criteria below.
19th Annual Viola Awards Categories, Descriptions & Criteria:
Excellence in Visual Art
Celebrates a locally based artist, group of artists, curator, or organization for the production of an excellent work of visual art or exhibition of visual art, produced and exhibited in the greater Flagstaff area in 2026. Recognition could be for a single, significant work of art; a public art project; or an exhibition of multiple works of art.
- Technical Proficiency
- Conceptual Impact
- Community Engagement
Excellence in Performing Art
Celebrates a locally based performing artist, group of performing artists, or organization for a performing arts production, produced and performed in the greater Flagstaff area in 2026. Recognition could be for a director of a theatrical production, an organization for the production and presentation of a performance, or an individual actor, dancer, or other performer.
- Technical Proficiency
- Conceptual Impact
- Community Engagement
Excellence in Storytelling
Celebrates a locally based writer, filmmaker, podcaster, or other storyteller or group of storytellers for the production of narrative work produced and presented in the greater Flagstaff area in 2026. Recognition could be for a film, live reading of written works, recorded presentation, book, short story, essay, poem, or a series of stories, essays, or poems, or podcast.
- Technical Proficiency
- Conceptual Impact
- Community Engagement
Excellence in Music
Celebrates a locally based musician, group of musicians, or organization for the presentation of live, performed or recorded music in the greater Flagstaff area in 2026. Recognition could be for a music performance, a new album, a new composition or piece of music, etc.
- Technical Proficiency
- Conceptual Impact
- Community Engagement
Excellence in Collaboration
Celebrates a locally based collaborative effort produced and presented in the greater Flagstaff area in 2026. Recognition could be for achievements across disciplines of art, science and culture, between organizations, in any medium.
- Technical Proficiency
- Conceptual Impact
- Community Engagement
Excellence in Education
Celebrates an arts, science, or humanities educator or group of educators that fostered student achievement and engagement across the arts, sciences, and humanities in the greater Flagstaff area in 2026. Recognition could be for an individual teacher or educational program in art, science, and/or humanities.
- Academic Engagement and Achievement of Students
- Creative Practice or Research by Educator through Art, Science, and/or Humanities
- Community Engagement
Emerging Artist
Celebrates a locally based emerging or student artist in any genre (visual, performing, music, literature, film, etc.) in the greater Flagstaff area in 2026. An emerging artist is relatively new to their field, or a student in the field, with three to five years of professional experience.
- Technical Proficiency
- Conceptual Impact
- Community Engagement
Community Impact
Celebrates a locally based individual, organization, or collaborative team for their contribution to the advancement of art, science, and culture in the greater Flagstaff area in 2026.
- Art, Science, and Culture Effort for the Benefit of the Community
- Advocacy for Art, Science, and Culture initiatives
- Community Engagement
Local Artisan
Celebrates a locally based artisan who has demonstrated a commitment to their craft. An artisan is someone practiced and developed in a skilled trade, making goods by hand (including but not limited to ceramics, glass, jewelry, textiles, metalsmithing, etc.)
- Technical Proficiency
- Conceptual Impact
- Community Engagement
Key Criteria Definitions:
Technical Proficiency: Demonstrated mastery of the tools, techniques, and fundamentals of a medium or discipline.
Conceptual Impact: Intellectual and emotional impact of an artist's unique vision and ideas; using expressive language to invite the audience to engage with art on a deeper level.
Community Engagement: Projects that are meaningful, relevant, and responsive to the specific needs and interests of the community and reach a diverse audience.
Advocacy: Supporting and promoting the arts, including arts education, cultural institutions, and the creative industries, but educating and involving the public about the importance of the arts and advocating for policies that support them.
––– Sub-disciplines may be awarded at the discretion of the selection panels. For example, panels can choose to award separately for Dance and Theatre under the discipline of Performing Arts.
Your contact information is kept confidential and will only be used for Viola Awards communications from staff to you.
Established in 1999, Creative Flagstaff is a non-profit, 501(c)(3), and serves as Flagstaff’s art, science, and culture agency with a mission of fostering creative opportunity.
Questions? Please contact Viola Awards Coordinator Dani Commanda, dcommanda@creativeflagstaff.org or 928-255-4147.