The Northeast Louisiana Arts Council has unveiled the nominees for the 40th annual Northeast Louisiana Arts Awards, set to take place on Thursday, June 25, 2026. The event will honor individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to the cultural and artistic landscape of Region 8.
This year’s awards will recognize achievements in nine categories, including three new additions: Higher Education Arts Educator of the Year, Literary Artist of the Year, and Community Arts Impact Award. Finalists were selected after a public nomination process and voting period. The top five nominees in each category have been invited to attend the ceremony, where the winners will be revealed.
Established in 1993, the Visual Artist of the Year Award was renamed in 2009 in honor of Edmund Williamson, a trailblazing artist who left an indelible mark on northeast Louisiana’s cultural scene. This year’s nominees for the Edmund Williamson Visual Artist of the Year Award are:
- Krewe Creative (Daniel Myers & Ashley Greer)
- Ashley Greer
- Stacy Medaries
- Vitus Shell
- Natalie Sturgis
The Performing Artist of the Year Award, introduced in 2019 and renamed in 2024 to honor former Arts Council Executive Director Tommy Usrey, recognizes performers who have enriched Region 8 through their artistic contributions. The 2026 nominees include:
- The John L. Brown Sr. Memorial Scholarship Band
- Jackson Culp
- Taylor Michiels
- Moira O’Connor
- Emily Stogner
The Business Art (BART) Award, the first award established by the Arts Council in 1985, honors businesses that have significantly supported cultural programs in Region 8. This year’s nominees are:
- Creative Exchange
- Flying Tiger Brewery
- The Good Daze
- KEDM Public Radio
- Tommy’s Tees
The Volunteer of the Year Award, created in 1988 to recognize individuals who have actively supported the arts through personal involvement, features the following nominees for 2026:
- Eleanor Hatfield
- Jennifer Haynes
- Taylor Michiels
- Nirali Patel
- Patrik Pyburn
The Dorothy “Dot” Bassett Emerging Artist Award celebrates young and early-career artists who demonstrate exceptional promise and dedication to their craft. This year’s nominees are:
- Chloe Alexander
- Daija Essien
- Kassie Greer
- Jansyn Jenkins
- Jari Richardson
The introduction of three new categories this year reflects the Arts Council’s commitment to recognizing a broader spectrum of artistic contributions.
The Region 8 Higher Education Arts Educator of the Year Award honors college or university educators who have made a lasting impact on students and the cultural life of Region 8. The inaugural nominees are:
- Brooke Cassay
- Emily Ezell
- Joey Slaughter
- Megan Smith
- Claire Vangelsi
The Literary Artist of the Year Award celebrates writers, poets, authors, and spoken word artists whose work has enriched northeast Louisiana’s cultural fabric. The nominees are:
- John Brown
- Jamie Mayes
- Monique Shantay
The Community Arts Impact Award recognizes individuals whose efforts have significantly enhanced arts access and cultural engagement outside of traditional educational settings. The 2026 nominees are:
- Cathy Airhart-Webb
- Dr. Alicia Jones
- Madge Ross
- Brandon Virgil, Sr.
Members of the Northeast Louisiana Arts Council and invited guests will gather at this year’s Arts Awards ceremony to celebrate these outstanding nominees and their contributions to the arts. Winners will be announced during the event on June 25, 2026, at a venue yet to be disclosed.
For more information about the awards or to learn more about the nominees, visit (http://nelaarts.org) or contact the Northeast Louisiana Arts Council at (318) 397-6717.