City of Lawrence – 2023 Phoenix Award Recipients
The City of Lawrence is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2023 Phoenix Awards. The Phoenix Awards recognize outstanding artistic achievements in the Lawrence community. Biennially, the Cultural Arts Commission asks for nominations from the community to recognize exceptional achievements in the arts. Due to the pandemic, this is the first year since 2019 that the Phoenix Awards program has been implemented.
This year, the Cultural Arts Commission recognized the following six awardees:
- Cider Gallery, awarded for Creative Spaces in the Arts – Nominated by Tiffany Hall, Lawrence Chamber of Commerce
- Indigenous Community Center, awarded for Creative Spaces in the Arts – Nominated by Felice Lavergne for Lawrence Transit
- Heidi Gluck, awarded for Musical Arts – Nominated by Brad Allen
- Mike Jones, awarded for Musical Arts Educator – Nominated by Tim Metz
- Regana “Rita” Rials, awarded for Social Justice in the Arts – Nominated by Derek Kwan
- Richard Renner, awarded for Performing Arts – Nominated by Larry Carter
LOCAL MATTERS
Our Local Advertisers – Making a Positive Impact
The Cultural Arts Commission received many qualified nominations for this year’s awards and was honored to select this year’s awardees as exemplary representatives of the Lawrence arts community.
The Phoenix Awards will be presented by Mayor Lisa Larsen at the 2023 Phoenix Awards reception and ceremony, which will be held at 4 p.m. on Sunday, October 15 at Theatre Lawrence. The event is free and all are welcome to attend. Curtis Young, the new director of the Kansas Creative Arts Industries Commission, will provide keynote remarks.
All of this year’s awardees will receive awards created by local artist Toni Brou.
