As University of Arizona Wildcats, we are driven by purpose, guided by our mission, and we live our core values every day. The Arizona Arts Excellence Award recognizes meritorious efforts and impacts that reflect the University Purpose of working together to expand human potential, explore new horizons, and enrich life for all.
We seek award nominations for individuals who embody our purpose and values by helping to ensure Arizona Arts serves as a gateway to the visual and performing arts that is inclusive of all students, improves lives in Arizona communities, and supports human flourishing nationwide.
The Arizona Arts Excellence Award is given to four individuals annually: 1 undergraduate student, 1 graduate student, 1 staff member, and 1 faculty member.
Recipients will receive a plaque with their name engraved and a $1,500 monetary stipend.
Guidelines
Nominee Eligibility
Staff and faculty nominee requirements:
- Must have completed one year full-time or part-time employment within Arizona Arts prior to nomination.
- Must be employed in an Arizona Arts academic, presenting, or administrative unit at the time the awardees are announced.
Undergraduate and graduate student nominee requirements:
- Must be a student majoring in an Arizona Arts academic program in the School of Art, School of Dance, School of Music, or School of Theatre, Film & Television.
- Must be enrolled full-time at time of nomination in spring semester with plans to graduate no earlier than the end of the subsequent fall semester (award is announced in fall semester).
- Must be in good academic standing with the University.
Excellence at Arizona Arts
Arizona Arts is home to a world-class university education, vibrant arts programming, and cutting-edge research and innovation. We excel by appreciating and supporting individuals with different backgrounds, talents, and perspectives across all areas of our organization.
This award recognizes and rewards Arizona Arts students, staff, and faculty who contribute to the excellence of our organization by improving effectiveness of policies and practices, enhancing vibrancy of people and programs, and fostering innovation in solving problems sustainably and responsibly (Jamieson, Church, & Vogelsang, 2018).
Effectiveness
of policies and practice
Effectiveness is about whether the desired results are achieved and how well they are achieved.
Vibrancy
of people and programs
Vibrancy is about whether people from different walks of life are present, engaged, and feel empowered to participate as full members.
Innovation
in sustainably solving problems
Innovation is about whether challenges and opportunities lead to new learnings and adaptations and how well they are implemented.
Effectiveness, vibrancy, and innovation—the markers of organizational excellence—will be considered in six possible domains of action shown below:
Domains for Action
Domain 1: Openness + Opportunity
- Who are we (demographics)?
- How do we invite people in (marketing/recruitment)?
- Who is allowed to join us (addmissions/hiring)?
- Who is missing and why (prerequisites/conditions)?
Domain 2: Education + Scholarship
- What do we teach and how do we teach it (curriculum/pedagogy)?
- What do we research and how do we share it (knowledge creation/publication)?
- What do we collect and curate and how do we present it (cultural production/engagement)?
- How do we develop ourselves (professional training)?
Domain 3: Success + Thriving
- What does success look like (graduation/career/quality of life)?
- How do we support those who are here (advising/mentoring/accommodations)?
- How do we know we are producing the desired results (assessment)?
- How do we track our progress (accountability)?
Domain 4: Relationships + Connection
- What is it like to study and work here (vibe)?
- How do we treat one another and work across differences (community)?
- What and how do we celebrate (values/rituals)?
- How do we deal with conflict (interpersonal relationships)?
Domain 5: Partnerships + Public Impact
- Where are we and how did we come to be here (place/history)?
- Who are our neighbors? How do we relate to and engage with them (partnership/collaboration)?
- What communities contribute to and benefit from what we do (impacts)?
- How do we monitor and modify our impacts on our surroundings (sustainability)?
Domain 6: Infrastructure + Investment
- How do we direct our time and resources (investment)?
- How do we receive and distribute information (systems)?
- How do we make decisions and solve problems (proccesses)?
- What do we recognize and promote as highly valued (policies)?
Application
For all nominations, submit Parts A and B (below) as a single document (.docx or .pdf) using the Nomination Form.
Part A: One nomination letter
- One letter of 500 words or less.
- The one nomination letter should be supplied by the nominator and may have multiple nominators or signatures. It should:
- clearly state the award for which the candidate is being nominated, and
- demonstrate the nominee’s specific efforts and positive impacts in advancing excellence at Arizona Arts.
- Self-nominations are welcome.
Part B: One collaborator letter or beneficiary letter
- One letter, written by a collaborator or a beneficiary, of 500 words or less.
- Collaborator letter: If you include a collaborator letter, it should be written by another individual or individuals at Arizona Arts who is familiar with the nominee’s qualifications, has partnered with the nominee, or can otherwise speak to the nominee’s specific efforts and positive impacts in advancing excellence at Arizona Arts.
- Beneficiary letter: If you include a beneficiary letter, it should be written by a member of a group or community who is familiar with and has benefited from the nominee’s specific efforts and can affirm their positive impacts in advancing excellence at Arizona Arts.
Awards Timeline
February 12, 2026
Applications open
April 3, 2026
Applications close
May 2026
Awardees notification
FAQs
Who can submit a nomination for the Arizona Arts Excellence Award?
Nominators must be a student major in the College of Fine Arts, a part-time or full-time employee of Arizona Arts, or a Designated Campus Colleague affiliated with Arizona Arts. Nominations are not accepted by individuals outside Arizona Arts.
Numerous entries of an individual nominee’s name do not increase the consideration of that individual; however more information on a nominee could.
Participation in the nomination process does not entitle nominees to receive monetary payment.
How do I submit a nomination?
Please read the Guidelines above carefully. A complete nomination packet will include Parts A and B as a single document (.docx or .pdf). Submit your nomination packet no later than 12:59pm MST on May 1, 2025. Submit using the Nomination Form.
What should I focus on in the nomination packet?
When compiling your candidate’s nomination packet, we encourage you to reflect on Excellence at Arizona Arts (described in the section above). Be explicit about how the nominee’s efforts and impact contribute to the effectiveness, vibrancy, or innovation of our organization as a whole and the domains of action in which excellence is demonstrated.
The nomination review panel will consider demonstrations of excellence as well as contextual factors, such as courage, resilience, potential, resource environment, and collaboration with other units and initiatives at Arizona Arts. We encourage you to highlight these factors as appropriate.
What is a domain of action?
In a broad sense, a domain of action is a sphere or area where something takes place or has an impact. Nomination letters should show how meritorious efforts and impacts of the nominee align or integrate with at least one domain of action delineated in the Excellence at Arizona Arts section above.
Can multiple people submit a nomination as a group?
Yes. While your nomination will have to be attached to one primary nominator’s email address for administrative purposes, we treat all names equally in every other regard. If you would like to submit a nomination as a group, please use Part A: Nomination Letter to list the names of all who contributed to the nomination. The signature section of your letter is a good place to put the names.
Do you inform nominees of who nominated them?
We do not. Those who submit nominations are welcome to inform those they nominate that they are being considered for an Arizona Arts Excellence Award.
Where do I go if I have questions about the awards?
You may email Amy Kraehe at akraehe@arizona.edu.
References
- Jamieson, D. W., Church, A. H., & Vogelsang, J. D. (2018). Enacting values-based change: Organization development in action. Springer.
- University of Arizona. (n.d.). Purpose, Mission & Values [website]. https://www.arizona.edu/purpose-mission-values