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Mayor's Awards

Presented every two years, the Mayor's Awards for Excellence in Arts & History celebrate people, organizations, and businesses that contribute to Boise's creative and cultural community. Award recipients must have demonstrated distinguished service, creative accomplishment, and a record of publication, presentation or research that enhances Boise's artistic, historic, and broader cultural life.

2025 MAYOR'S AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE IN ARTS & HISTORY

Presented every two years, the Mayor's Awards for Excellence in Arts & History celebrate people, organizations, and businesses that contribute to Boise's cultural and creative community.

Awarded recipients must have demonstrated distinguished service, creative accomplishment, and/or a record of publication, presentation, or research that enhances Boise's artistic, historic, and broader cultural life. 
Nomination categories include:
 

Award recipients and the next Cultural Ambassador will be announced at the Mayor’s Awards for Excellence in Arts & History on Thursday, September 18, 2025, at 5 p.m. at JUMP. Individual tickets and sponsoring opportunities will be available for purchase in early summer.

NOMINATIONS NOW OPEN

Nominate via Submittable April 1 - 30, 2025. NOMINATE HERE. 

2026-2027 CITY OF BOISE CULTURAL AMBASSADOR

On the same evening, Mayor McLean will also appoint the 2026-2027 City of Boise Cultural Ambassador. Learn more.

EVENT SCHEDULE & TICKETS

Event details and tickets forthcoming. 

For more information, email artsandhistory@cityofboise.org or call (208) 608-7050.

The Boise City Department of Arts & History encourages persons with disabilities and those who require language assistance to participate in its programs and activities. If you anticipate needing an accommodation, please contact email artsandhistory@cityofboise.org, as soon as possible, but no later than 72 hours before the event.

PAST AWARD RECIPIENTS

2023

2021

As a government agency and with a responsibility to support Boise’s creative and cultural sector, the Boise City Department of Arts & History brought about several initiatives to support the creative community in a time of crisis. In lieu of the biennial Mayor’s Awards for Excellence in Arts & History, the first ever Mayor’s Appreciation Day for Arts, History, & Culture was held on September 16, 2021 in celebration of our broader cultural sector with performances by and compensation for these irreplaceable workers. Learn more.

2019

2017

2015 

2013

2011

2009

Excellence in Arts--Organization:  Boise State University Student Union
Individual Support for the Arts: Jacqueline Crist
Business Support for the Arts: Flying M Coffee House
Excellence in Art Education: Fool Squad
Lifetime Achievement: Arthur Hart
Lifetime Achievement: Charles Hummel
Excellence in History--Organization: Idaho Historical Museum
Excellence in Arts--Individual: Steve Fulton
Excellence in History--Individual: Todd Shallat
Excellence in History Education: Robert Sims
Business Support for History: TAG Historical Research and Consulting

2007

Excellence in Art Education: Phil and Wendy Hartman
Excellence in Art Education: Jon Swarthout
Individual Support for the Arts: Kay Hardy and Gregory Kaslo
Business Integration of the Arts: Classic Design Studio / Noel and Lucy Weber
Business Support of the Arts: The Record Exchange/ Jill Sevy and Michael Bunnell
Artistic Excellence in the Arts: Anthony Doerr
Artistic Excellence in the Arts: Matthew Cameron Clark
Artistic Excellence in the Arts: Curtis Stigers

2005

Artistic Excellence in the Arts: Ward Hooper
Artistic Excellence in the Arts: Jennifer Martin
Artistic Excellence in the Arts: James Ogle
Individual Support for the Arts: Rick Clark and Liz Roberts
Business Support of the Arts: Key Bank
Business Support of the Arts: First Thursday, presented by Downtown Boise Association
Excellence in Art Education: Paul Shaffer, Log Cabin Literary Center
Spotlight Award: Boise Music Week

2003

Artistic Excellence in the Arts: Star Moxley
Artistic Excellence in the Arts: Gene Harris
Individual Support for the Arts: Royanne Minskoff
Business Support of the Arts: Boise Cascade
Excellence in Art Education: John O'Hagan
Excellence in Art Education: Boise Art Museum Docents
Spotlight Award: Capital City Development Corporation

2001

Charles Fee
Del Parkinson
Marilyn Beck
First Security/Wells Fargo
Joe Baldassarre
Ballet Idaho Education Department
Ruth Wright
Idaho Foundation for Parks & Lands

1999

Oinkari Basque Dancers
Stephanie Wilde
Noreen Shanafelt
Pug Ostling
Ore-Ida/Grant Jones
Boise Little Theater

1997

Alan Minskoff
Michael Baltzell
Toni Pimble
Sandy Harthorn
Rick Jenkins
The Flicks

1995

West One Bank
Pat Nelson
Boise Arts Museum
Idaho Shakespeare Festival

1993

Beaux Arts Society
Doug Copsey
Mary McKenzie

1991

Howard Huff
Melvin Shelton
Eugene Sullivan, M.D.

1990

Idaho Theater for Youth
John Killmaster
Arthur M. Albanese

1989

John Elliot
Boise Philharmonic
John Chapman

1988

Elizabeth Schlaeffle Ratcliff
Mimi Copsey
Jim Jausoro

1987

C. Griffith Bratt
Boise Master Chorale
David Horland

1986

John Takahara
Esther Simplot
American Festival Ballet