2026 Spark Awards Nominations

ASI's Spark Awards are back! We can't wait to honor and recognize all of the incredible work being done in WNY's creative sector.

To submit a nomination for consideration, please complete the form below. Please submit one form for each individual or organization you wish to nominate.

Nominations will be reviewed in early August 2026. All honorees will be notified by the end of August and celebrated at the Spark Awards on Tuesday, October 6, 2026.

Please review the award categories carefully. If your submission does not align with an award's requirements, it will not be considered or reviewed.

Award Categories:

Organization of the Year - This award honors an arts or cultural organization for their community impact in 2025 and/or 2026 that went beyond their normal operations. Nominations should highlight new or expanded programming, services, or other community impact.

Artist of the Year - This award honors an individual creative in any artistic discipline or cultural expression for their achievements and community impact in 2025 and/or 2026. Nominations should highlight the work, honors, and achievements that took place within the past year and that made this individual stand out as a community pillar.

Administrator of the Year - This award honors an arts or cultural administrative employee who went above and beyond in their role and demonstrated a significant impact not only on the organization, but on the wider community in 2025 and/or 2026.

Arts Educator - This award honors an arts educator or teaching artist whose work has made a meaningful impact through the design and delivery of learning experiences in any artistic discipline. Nominations should reflect a strong commitment to arts education, an understanding of arts learning standards, and the unique ways the nominee has engaged and inspired learners through their work. This award is not limited to traditional the traditional classroom learning experience.

Arts Integration - This award honors an individual or organization that has led an interdisciplinary project, program, or initiative using the arts to deepen understanding of a non-arts subject or concept. This is not an arts education award; traditional instruction in artistic practice or skills will not be considered.

Community Organizer - This award honors an individual in the arts and cultural sector who is known for connecting and supporting people in the WNY region through shared arts or cultural experiences. Nominations should highlight unique events, programs, or opportunities that this person has organized, as well as examples of how these connections have improved the sector.

Impactful Programming - This award honors an artist or arts or cultural organization for a community-centered program or project that significantly impacted the WNY community. Nominations should highlight the uniqueness of the program, the impact it had on the community, and how it centered the community's needs, including removing barriers to access.

Lifetime Achievement - This award honors an individual in the arts and cultural community for their career-long body of work, especially on the occasion of retirement or nearing the end of their professional career.

Rising Star - This award honors an emerging artist or arts administrator who is early in their career, new to their role, or entering the next phase of their career. Nominations must demonstrate the promise of success based on past achievements.

Supporter of the Arts & Cultural Sector - This award honors an individual or organization outside of the sector for their work directly aiding or supporting the arts and cultural industry.

Unsung Hero - This award honors an unpaid individual or group who has made a significant impact on an arts organization, artistic discipline, or the entire sector through their volunteer service.

Who are you nominating?

Awards Nomination

Please select which awards you would like this nominee to be considered for.

Review the award descriptions above before making your nomination selection. Only valid nominations will be considered. For example: emerging and mid-career artists and administrators will not be considered for the Lifetime Achievement award.

Reason for Nomination

Tell us why this organization, individual, or project deserves to be recognized. Examples should include notable accomplishments, length of time organization has been in existence or individual has been doing the work, community impact of the work, and unique attributes of person or organization.

For Organization of the Year, Artist of the Year, and Administrator of the Year - List notable accomplishments of the organization or individual specifically from 2025 and/or 2026.

NOTE: Please be as detailed as possible. Do not assume the nomination committee is familiar with the organization, individual, or project you are nominating.

Who is submitting this nomination?

 

This information will not be shared with the nominating committee. We will use this information to notify you if your nominee is selected for an award.

A note about self-advocacy:

No one knows your work or organization better than you do! We encourage people to nominate themselves or their organization for a Spark Award. As this information is not shared with the nominating committee, we hope you will feel comfortable nominating yourself instead of relying on someone else to do it for you.