22 May Celebrating 40 Years of Artistic Excellence: Augusta Annual Arts Awards Gala Shines Bright on June 20
Celebrating 40 Years of Artistic Excellence: Augusta Annual Arts Awards Gala Shines Bright on June 20
The Greater Augusta Arts Council is proud to announce the 2025 Augusta Annual Arts Awards Gala, celebrating 40 years of honoring excellence in the arts across the River Region. This year’s event represents a broader range of Augusta’s amazing creative community, with more awards and an elevated gala and dinner celebration.
The gala will be held on Friday, June 20, 2025 at 7pm, at the beautiful St. Paul’s River Room in Augusta, GA. Guests will enjoy an elegant evening featuring dinner by A Family Affair Catering and live music by the soulful and smooth L4Jazz. The evening promises an inspiring tribute to the artists, educators, cultural workers, advocates, and creatives who are shaping Augusta’s cultural landscape. Tickets are $65 for Arts Council Members, $75 for non-members and $125 for couples. Tickets are available at AugustaArts.com.
“This year’s Annual Arts Awards marks a pivotal moment of transformation. We’ve expanded our focus to honor the full spectrum of Augusta’s creative community, with broader recognition, deeper advocacy, and a celebration rooted in love for our local artists. It’s a bold, intentional shift in the direction of inclusivity, inspiration, and community pride. The honorees represent the beating heart of Augusta’s culture and creativity. It’s an honor to celebrate them in this way.” — Denise Tucker, Executive Director, Greater Augusta Arts Council
The 2025 award recipients span multiple artistic disciplines and are recognized for their outstanding contributions:
Lifetime Achievement Award: Christine Miller Betts
President’s Award: Steven Kendrick
Executive Director’s Visionary Leadership Award: Barbara Feldman, Storyland Theatre
Emerging Artist Award: Maddie Cartwright
Arts Professional Categories include:
Visual Artist – Tiphiknee De Herrera
Digital Design/Photography – Mark Albertin
Entertainment – Krys Bailey, Le Chat Noir
Literary – Lucinda Clark
History & Preservation – Corey Rogers, Lucy Craft Laney Museum / Golden Blocks
Fashion – Jordan Ariel Batin, My Best Friend’s Sewing Room
Culinary Arts – Justin Hayes
Arts Educator – A.B. Osborne, Augusta University
Arts Volunteer – Denise King, for 25 years of service to GAAC
Arts Media – The Morning Mix with Cliff Bennett
Arts Sponsor –Jim Dalton, Beachview Tents & Rentals,
Kath Girdler Englar Public Art Award – Przemyslaw Kordys (PK)
Arts Non-Profit/Organization of the Year – Augusta Junior Players, Roy Lewis
Please join us in celebrating all of these amazing members of Augusta’s vibrant creative community.