The Arts and Education Council (A&E) has announced twenty-five honorees for the 2023 St. Louis Arts Awards. Celebrating the organization's 60th Anniversary, the St. Louis Arts Awards is the region’s preeminent event, recognizing the incredible artists, organizations, and individuals that KEEP ART HAPPENING in our local communities, and make our great bi-state region such a vibrant place to live, work and play. We are excited to have as our host of this year’s big show, the legendary Ron Himes, in addition we will feature an all-star orchestra and surprise performances under the direction of our maestro, Alerica Anderson.

The 2023 honorees are: NATIONAL ARTS ICON: Keyon Harrold, David Steward II; LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT IN THE ARTS: Barbara Berner, Judy Best, Dr. Eugene B. Redmond; EXCELLENCE IN THE ARTS: Steve Schankman; EXCELLENCE IN PHILANTHROPY: John Russell; ART EDUCATOR OF THE YEAR: LEGACY Honoree, Suzanne Palmer; LEADING THE FUTURE Honoree, Jermaine Smith; RENAISSANCE AWARD: Susan Barrett, Cbabi Bayoc; CATALYST AWARD: Thomasina Clarke, Tim Schall, Executive Director, The Cabaret Project of St. Louis; CATALYST AWARD - ARTS LEGEND: Dorothy Marshall Englis, Raymond J. Parks; ART COLLABORATION: Greater St. Louis, Inc., ‘Fire Shut Up In My Bones’, Sumner Recovery Plan; ART INNOVATOR: Maria Ellis; CHAMPION FOR THE ARTS: Diane Davenport, Gloria Taylor; EMERGING ARTIST: Prince Lyons,Shevare’ Perry; EMERGING STUDENT ARTIST: Riley Carter Adams, William Austin, Denim Browder.

A&E is thrilled that Kim and Tim Eberlein and Janet and Jimmy Williams will serve as our 60th Anniversary co-chairs. Kim and Tim are arts advocates and outstanding supporters of cancer research, as well as recipients of the 2016 St. Louis Arts Award Excellence in Philanthropy honor. Janet and Jimmy Williams are art enthusiasts, community youth mentorship advocates and the owner/operators of 29 McDonald’s restaurants in the Metro East and St. Louis areas.

“This will be a big year for us, as the Arts and Education Council is turning 60 and I will debut as our new President and CEO!” says A&E President and CEO, Lyah LeFlore-Ituen. “The celebration will be a throwback to yesteryear, with a theme of the Great Gatsby and Cotton Club eras, blended together for a robust and glamorous award show experience! The magical evening will be exciting and electrifying and will include a jazz pre-show cocktail hour, artful dinner, and our coveted awards ceremony, featuring sensational performances by some of the region’s most dynamic artists.” The event will take place on Monday, January 30, 2023 at The Chase Park Plaza.

Nominations for the awards were submitted by the public in July and honorees were selected by a volunteer committee of previous honorees, arts patrons, artists, arts administrators and community volunteers.

Proceeds benefit the Arts and Education Council, which offers programs and services that support more than 70 arts and arts education organizations impacting 1.6 million people throughout the 16-county, bi-state region.

Tickets for the 2023 St. Louis Arts Awards are now on sale here. For more information about the honorees, visit KeepArtHappening.org/2023ArtsAwards. For sponsorship opportunities, email Jessie Youngblood, VP of External Relations, at Jessie-Y@KeepArtHappening.org