Established in 1999, these awards demonstrate the importance of the arts as they relate to Missoula’s quality of life by honoring those who have made significant contributions to the arts community. Individuals and businesses may be nominated in six separate categories: John Engen Cultural Ambassador, Individual Artist, Arts Educator, Business Support for the Arts, Cultural Vision and New to the Zoo.

The John Engen Cultural Ambassador Award is in honor of Mayor Engen’s legacy of philanthropy and goes to an individual or couple who have supported Missoula’s arts community or helped to advance cultural diplomacy through volunteer, administrative, philanthropic, professional or legislative efforts. The Individual Artist award is presented to an artist who has shown exceptional achievement in music, visual art, dance, film/video, theater or performance art. The Arts Educator category honors an outstanding educator (kindergarten through the university level) who has devoted a career to teaching the arts. The Business Support for the Arts award is given to a business that has provided long-term support to Missoula arts and cultural organizations. The Cultural Vision award recognizes an organization, group or individual that has developed a special project or program demonstrating unique artistic vision. And new this year: "New to the Zoo" honors an artist or professional who has benefited the arts and cultural communities they lived in prior to Missoula and shown great promise for stewardship and creativity in our community as residents.

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