Early Nominations Coming In 2013 Buckey Awards

(Sandy Moss - 2012 Buckey Awards Honoree for Outstanding Media Artist - photo by David Cottle)

The first ballots are trickling in for the 3rd Annual Buckey Awards for Excellence in the Arts.

To find out how we decide who gets the Buckey Award, click here. 

To get your own ballot to vote, click here.

Here are the artists, performers and arts supporters some people have voted for so far:

They are listed alphabetically. Some may not be qualified for the Buckeys, for example - they may not have lived and worked in Yavapai County for the last year, etc. We're just listing who's been voted for so far. If you know these folks,  please do let them know they are in the running and maybe ask them to email prescottartsbeat@gmail.com so I can tell them more about the BuckeyAwards. 

See anyone you'd like to vote for? Who did they forget?

• Outstanding Visual Artist 

Arlene Minuskin
Brian Randal
Carolyn Alexander
Charles Conrardy
Chelsea Stone
Jacques Laliberte
Lynn Vanlandingham
R.E. Wall
Rick Hartner
Roger Asay and Rebecca Davis
Ron Evans
Ross Hilmoe
Sean Jarrels
Warren Zager

• Outstanding Literary Artist

Carl Hitchens
Chris Hoy
Christopher E. Hoy
Dan Seaman
Jaques Laliberte
Jody Drake
Karen Murphy
Margaret Dewar
Micki Shelton
Mona Lange-McCloskey
Sandy Moss
Steven Ayers

• Outstanding Media Artist/Broadcaster

Bo Woods
Janis Best
Ken Beyers
Tom Agostino and The Folk Sessions
Marnie Uhl
Sandy Bahr
Sandy Moss
Steven Ayres
Tom Von Deck

• Outstanding Arts Educator

Bruce Lanning
Delisa Myles
Jody Drake
Juanita Hull-Carlson
Judy Clothier, PCA Youth Choir Director
Karen Churchill
Lisa Kaiser
Louisa Nelson - PHS Drama instructor
Lynn Vanlandingham Arts Studio instruction
ParkerAnderson
Robbie Smith

• Outstanding Performing Artist (non-musician)

Ashley Fine
Brian Martinez
Carly Fonda in Annie
Cason Murphy for Cabaret, The 39 Steps, Tuna Christmas
Christopher Eubank
Gail Mangham
Jody Drake
Julie Cargill
Laura Prosseda
Margaret Dewar
Parker Anderson
PyroKlectic
Sean Jeralds
Sekah Sneller
Troupe Salamat

• Outstanding Arts Activist

Barry Barbe
Elizabeth Ruffner
Ida Kendall, The Frame and I
Jean Lutz
Jerry Smith-Fornara
Jody Drake
Judith Hardes
Judy Paris
Marnie Uhl
Elks Theater Performing Arts Center

• Outstanding Arts Organization

Blue Rose Theatre
Elks Opera House
Everybody's Place
Lonesome Valley Playhouse
Mountain Artists Guild & Gallery
Prescott Center for the Arts
Prescott College
Prescott Jazz Summit
The Baul Theatre Company
The Elks Opera House Foundation
The Spot, A Child's Museum
The@trics Theater
Trinity Presbyterian Church Concert Series
Tsunami on the Square
Yavapai College Performing Arts Center

• Outstanding Arts Event

"Ghost Talk" - Prescott Center for the Arts
1st Anniv. Show Becky Fest Benefit Llory McDonald
Annie - Prescott Center for the Arts
Cabaret - Prescott Center for the Arts
Chalk It Up, Prescott!
Flourish Before the Flood at Tsunami on the Square
John Doan - Trinity Presbyterian Church - Christmas program
Leap of Faith Free Tattoo Day
MAGG Festival of Art
NICKEL AND DIMED (CCJ fundraiser play)
Prescott Film Festival
Prescott Jazz Summit
Studio Tour
The 39 Steps - Prescott Center for the Arts
THE ELK IN THE ATTIC: A Musical Play
Thriftheatre
Tsunami On the Square

• Outstanding Musical Artist

Becky Dalke, singer/song writer/guitarist/drummer
Chris Eubanks
Don Cheeks
Drew Hall
Ember Larson
Here Come Cowboys
Jack Peterson
Jennifer Wolff Harvey
Jonathan Best
Kaileena Martin
Kate Howell
Laura Prosseda
Lee Lozowick
Linda Sheehan, Music Director for "Cabaret"
Mike Vax
Spafford
Terri New
The Gurley Girls
The Jukes
Vyktoria Pratt Keating
 

• Outstanding Lifetime Contributor to the Arts of Yavapai County    

Karen Murphy
Don Langford for 34 years with the PCA
Clyde Neville
Lee Lozowick
Bill Owen - Cowboy Artist of America
James Family
J. W. Kieckhefer Foundation
The Bronze Gallery in Prescott Valley
Linda Miller
Anita "Nika" Nordbrock
Tom Agostino
R.E. Wall (Mural Mice)

How Do We Decide Who Wins a Buckey Award?

Click here to get your own ballot for the Buckey Awards.

The honorees of the Buckey Awards for Excellence in Arts are decided in a two part process.

First, in an open ballot, anyone can nominate local artists in ten categories:

• Outstanding Visual Artist (painter, photographer, sculptor, etc)
• Outstanding Literary Artist (writer, poet, journalist, essayist, etc)
• Outstanding Media Artist/Broadcaster (radio, video, Internet, etc)
• Outstanding Arts Educator (teaching art or performance skills)
• Outstanding Performing Artist (non-musical) (actor, dancer, etc) 
• Outstanding Arts Activist (fundraiser, booster, organizer, etc)
• Outstanding Arts Organization (group creating or boosting the arts)
• Outstanding Arts Event (single event or series showcasing the arts)
• Outstanding Musical Artist (band, duo or single musician, singer, etc)
• Lifetime Contributor to the Arts of Yavapai County

This is an open ballot. There is no list of candidates to choose from. 

You write in the name of the person you vote for on a blank line.

The nominees must have lived and worked in Yavapai County during the previous year for all the categories except the Lifetime Contributor nominees who must have lived and worked in Yavapai County for at least 10 years.

The nominees who get the most votes become finalists for each category. Then, our top secret committees of local creatives go over the list for their category and choose one finalist as this year's honoree for the category. And that's how we choose who gets the Buckey Awards.

The honorees of the 3rd Annual Buckey Awards for Excellence in the Arts will be announced in a live broadcast ceremony on Saturday, March 9th, 2013.

And you can get your ballot right here!

Here's Your Ballot for the 2013 Buckey Awards!

(photo by David Cottle)

Its the start of Buckey Awards Season! 

Yes, the Buckey Awards for Excellence in the Arts celebrates the artists, performers and arts supporters of Yavapai County. And, in a ceremony on Saturday, March 9th, at the historic Elks Opera House, we'll recognize these wonderful people before a crowd and on live t.v.

Here's how the voting works:

1. Decide who your favorite local artists, performers and arts supporters are in these categories: (If you want more detail on the categories and the method we use to decide who gets the Buckey Awards, click here.) Remember, this is an open ballot. There is no list of people to choose from. You write in who you want on a blank line.

• Outstanding Visual Artist 
• Outstanding Literary Artist
• Outstanding Media Artist/Broadcaster
• Outstanding Arts Educator
• Outstanding Performing Artist (non-musician)
• Outstanding Arts Activist
• Outstanding Arts Organization
• Outstanding Arts Event
• Outstanding Musical Artist
• Outstanding Lifetime Contributor to the Arts of Yavapai County      (Jody Drake and Bill Nebeker have already been honored as Lifetime Contributors and so are ineligible for the 2013 Buckeys.)

Nominees for Outstanding Lifetime Contribution to the Arts of Yavapai County must have lived and worked in Yavapai County for at least 10 years. All other nominees must have lived and worked in Yavapai County for at least all of 2012.

2. Click here to go to your free online Buckey Awards ballot. Vote.

Only one ballot can be submitted from an individual computer. If your mom already voted off the family computer, you're going to have to use your smart phone or a computer at the library. Sorry folks, got to keep some people from trying to game the system.

If you have contact information for the artist, performer or arts supporter you are voting for, please include it on the ballot. We'll contact them and let them know they are in the running for the 2013 Buckey Awards!

3. In February, we'll announce the close of voting. The short list of finalists resulting of this voting will be given to top secret committees of practicing local artists, performers and arts supporters. They will review the work of the Finalists and vote for one person/organization in each category to celebrate on Saturday, March 9th at the Elks Opera House.

This is not a contest for best, this is a celebration of achievement.

We look forward to seeing the artists, performers and arts supporters whose work you enjoy most. Thanks for supporting the arts in Yavapai County and we look forward to seeing you at the 3rd Annual Buckey Awards on Saturday, March 9th!

Andrew Johnson-Schmit
Producer/Master of Ceremonies
3rd Annual Buckey Awards for Excellence in the Arts
prescottartsbeat@gmail (dot) com

Talking About the Buckey Awards on AZTV's The Morning Scramble

What a Night!

(photo by the awesome David Cottle)

It really was a fantastic night at the 2012 Buckey Awards for Excellence in the Arts - as you can tell from my slight grin in the middle of Switch Academy of Performing Arts' many hard-charging hoofers.

I'll write more about it in the days ahead, but in the meantime, there is excellent coverage in the Daily Courier, Prescott eNews and a lovely blog posting by Outstanding Literary Artist honoree Tiffany Antone.

The Buckey Awards Are Tonite!

Behold! The Buckey Awards have arrived. They come but once a year - and when they do - it's a great night out, celebrating the artist, performers and arts supporters of Yavapai County!

Get your date and don't be late! The Buckey Awards for Excellence in the Arts is tonight at the historic Elks Opera House in downtown Prescott. For a measly $10, you get one glittering night of fun - with a real life Red Carpet Experience at 6:30pm, awards show at 7pm. To find out more and get reserved tickets, click here.

Musical guests are Tumbledown House, with their roadhouse jazz vibe; special performance by dancers from the Switch Academy of Performing Arts; a comedic visit from the Certifiable Public Accountants of Cook, Books & Hyde; a Lifetime Contribution to the Arts of Yavapai County conferred on Bill Nebeker - 40 + year veteran of the arts in our community, bronze sculptor of western themes; and then, oh then, 9 wonderful, nail-bitingly awesome categories to honor artist and performers working, living and creating in Yavapai County.

Here is a list of the categories, who's presenting the Buckey and who the finalists are in that category:

Outstanding Visual Artist - Presenter: Ian Russell of Ian Russell Galley of Fine Art
(finalists, in alphabetical order)
Brooke Stevens-Patrick
Charles Huckeba
Paul Abbott
Rick Hartner
Roger Asay and Rebecca Davis


Outstanding Literary Artist - Presenter: Toni Kaus, Library Director, City of Prescott
(finalists, in alphabetical order)
Karen Despain
Michele McFadden (Micki Shelton)
Parker Anderson
Steven Ayres
Tiffany Antone

Outstanding Media Artist/Broadcaster - Presenter: Monika Marrihia Bishop
(finalists, in alphabetical order)
Bo Woods
BrYan Matuskey
David Veatch
Sandy Moss
Tom Agostino

Outstanding Arts Educator - Presenter: Juanita Hull-Carlson
(finalists, in alphabetical order)
Bruce Lanning (Yavapai College)
Dan Bradstreet (PHS)
Jean Lutz (Everybody's Place)
Sister Anne Fitzsimons (Sacred Heart)

Outstanding Performing Artist - Presenter: Katie Hodge Dean
(finalists, in alphabetical order)
Cason Murphy
Delisa Myles
Jody Drake
Linda Miller
Marnie Uhl

Outstanding Arts Activist - Presenter: Elisabeth Ruffner
(finalists, in alphabetical order)
Ida Kendall
Jean Lutz
Jeri Smith-Fornara
Jon Meyer
Mike Vax

Outstanding Arts Organization - Presenter: Jon Meyer, Prescott Center for the Arts
(finalists, in alphabetical order)
Elks Opera House Foundation
Prescott Center for the Arts
Prescott College Arts Gallery at Sam Hill Warehouse
Prescott Film Festival
The@trics Theatre


Outstanding Arts Event - Presenter: Margo Christensen
(finalists, in alphabetical order)
Phippen Museum Western Art Show & Sale
Prescott Film Festival
Prescott Jazz Summit
"Sweeney Todd" at PCA
"The Miracle Worker" at PCA


Outstanding Musical Artist - Presenters: Tres Ikner and Jen Juniper of Dutch Holly 
(finalists, in alphabetical order)
Anton Teschner and Drew Hall
Don Cheek and the Cheektones
Here Come Cowboys
Jonathan Best
Merry Musicals Moms

Lifetime Contribution to the Arts of Yavapai County - Presenter: Jody Drake
(2012 Honoree)
Bill Nebeker

To find out more and to get reserved tickets, click here.

On Stage: Switch Academy of Performing Arts

And what awards show would be complete without dancers? The 2012 Buckey Awards showcase our local dance scene with a production number by eight young dancers from Switch Academy of Performing Arts. 


Semi-Spoiler alert: There is actually a 9th dancer in the number. Someone you NEVER thought you would see dancing on the Elks Opera House stage . . . or anywhere for that matter. Come to the 2012 Buckey Awards or watch it live on Access 13 to find out who!


To learn more and to pick up some of those dirt cheap  tickets, click here.