Submit a 2024 Arts Award nomination.
The City of Highland Park Arts award recognizes outstanding achievements or contributions to the arts in Highland Park. Individuals may nominate a deserving person or organization for the Award. The Arts Award is not limited to any one artistic discipline. Previous winners have included individuals and organizations representing arts education, visual arts, literary arts, performing arts, architecture, and digital media/graphic design.
Individuals may be recognized for artistic excellence, significant contributions to their artistic discipline or to the local arts community, arts leadership, or volunteerism for the arts. Individuals do not need to reside in Highland Park to be eligible for the Award. Regardless of residency, the nominator must demonstrate the individual's impact on the arts as part of the individual's nomination.
Organizations may be recognized for making a substantial impact on the cultural development of the community as demonstrated through exceptional artistic achievement, outstanding programming, or significant commitment to the arts. Arts entities, nonprofit organizations, and businesses supporting the arts are all eligible to be nominated for the Award.
Any person (or person representing an organization) may submit a nomination for the Award. Please note that self-nominations are not accepted.
Nominators are encouraged to review the list of prior winners available below. A previous winner may be nominated for the Award. However, the nominator must detail new accomplishments or achievements as part of the nomination.
Nominations must be submitted via the online nomination form. All fields marked with a red asterisk are required. Please be as detailed as possible in your responses so that nominations may be carefully reviewed.
Arts Award nominations are reviewed by the Cultural Arts Advisory Group, with winners selected by the City Council. The City reserves the right not to select a winner.
For more details, contact Amanda Bennett, Staff Liaison to the Cultural Arts Advisory Group, at 847.926.1043 or abennett@cityhpil.com.
Past Winners
Year | Winner |
2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 |
Rhoda Pierce The Art Center Ravinia Festival no award given due to COVID-19 Chloe Schneider Highland Park Poetry Gabrielle Rousso |
2016 | Susanna Calkins |
2015 | Jonathan Plotkin |
2014 | Sandra Lewis |
2013 | Highland Park Public Library |
2012 | Irina Makkai Classical Ballet and Dance School |
2011 | East on Central |
2010 | Highland Park High School Band under the direction of Dr. James Hile |
2009 | Carol Honigberg |
2008 | Amy Amdur |
2007 | Jack Blane |
2006 | Sumner Garte |
2005 | Raymond Geraci |
2004 | FOCUS ON THE ARTS – 20th anniversary |
2003 | Joan Kathyrn Weaver |
2002 | Highland Park Strings |
2001 | Mortimer Scheff |
2000 | Joan Arenberg |
1999 | none – not enough nominations submitted |
1998 | Eileen Boevers |
1997 | Zarin Mehta |
1996 | Highland Park Players |
1995 | Ann Slavick |
1994 | Ann Rosen |
1993 | Larry Block |
1992 | Apple Tree Theatre |
1991 | Leonard Abrahamson, Sylvia Delman, Ruth Esserman |
1990 | Cortesi Family and Delores Weinberg |