Inside Tucson Business talks to Mary Davis, 2006 Arts Awards Planning Committee chair, about the Tucson Pima Arts Awards.

Inside Tucson Business: Mary, what are the “Tucson Pima Arts Awards” and how did it start?

Mary Davis: The first Tucson-Pima effort to recognize the artists, arts organizations and arts supporters was organized in 2001. The event was started to recognize, at a local level, the many supporters of the Tucson arts community.

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The Governor’s Arts Awards, an important event that recognizes contributions made by communities around the state, is a necessary event on a broader level, but Tucson has such a vibrant and diverse art community that it was felt that a local event would provide greater opportunity to recognize that talent and support.

So in 2001, the Tucson Pima Arts Council, working with Beth Walkup, organized a fundraising event that was held at the Doubletree Hotel at Reid Park and titled, “Costume Ball for All and Mayor’s Arts Awards.” The first recipients that year were Carroll Rinehart, who received the Lifetime Achievement Award, and “Big” Jim Griffith who was given a Special Recognition Award.

Following that first year, the event never seemed to take root. The name changed slightly, the location moved around, and the number of awards wasn’t consistent. In 2004, to the disappointment of many, the event wasn’t held at all.

ITB: How did this event then come to be?

MD: The Tucson Pima Arts Council recognized right away that, while the Mayor’s awards event helped to raise the awareness for a need for something, the current model wasn’t working. We gathered in the summer of 2004 and started talking about what the mission of the arts awards should be, and how to best develop an event that wouldn’t be tied to any one jurisdiction, but rather would embrace the broader community, which the Arts Council does.

One thing we wanted to do was create an event unlike others held in Tucson, and that brought together those sectors of the community that were closely aligned with the arts. We researched other arts awards in other communities and found a number of similar events that did this quite successfully. In particular, we modeled our event after the Greater Philadelphia Arts & Business Council’s arts awards event, which really celebrates all corners of the community, from grassroots arts initiatives to major corporate sponsorship of the arts.

With that in mind, one of the biggest changes made right away was to broaden the focus of the event to recognize the achievements and contributions of individuals, volunteers and businesses who support the arts community everyday through financial contributions, staff resources, in-kind donations and through participation in events and performances. The synergy and partnership between the arts and business communities spans all fronts, from cultural diversity to economic development and we wanted to create an event that celebrated those partnerships.

The other major focus change was to expand the reach—to truly make this a regional event. Hence, the name ‘Tucson Pima’ Arts Awards.

In the last two years, we’ve invited and had participation from representatives from the region on the planning committee. We also included representatives from the local business community, including Madden Publishing, Cox Communications, Tucson Electric Power and The Caliber Group.

ITB: What is the awards structure?

MD: We developed 10 awards that recognize the arts luminaries in our community: artists, arts organizations, arts supporters, arts educators and businesses. Most arts organizations, programs and artists themselves could never survive without the commitment of its business community through resources, volunteers, ticket sales—there is an incredible synergy between the two. The Tucson Pima Arts Awards is the one time of the year where that partnership is celebrated and honored in the community.

We then asked Tom Philabaum to take our “luminaries” vision and create…something to commemorate the awad. He came up with a great specially-lighted glass medallion that we call the “Lumie.”

ITB: What exactly is a “Lumie”?

MD: When we discussed the award, we felt we needed a moniker that would help brand the event and set it apart from other awards events in the community, especially having the wonderful design of Tom Philabaum as its creator. This ceremony celebrates the luminaries of our community—those who have the vision, the leadership and demonstrate the commitment to supporting a full and dynamic arts community and that’s why we call the award the “Lumie.”

ITB: It can’t be easy to reinvent or re-establish an awards event, especially in a community that offers so many different awards. What has been the response from the region?

MD: First of all, I’m glad that you noted “the region.” One thing that we are really trying to establish is that this is a regional event, and people are very sensitive to that.

We’ve tried to accomplish this “regionality” in how we’ve built the committee that works so hard to put this together. We’ve tried to get representation from a true cross-section of our business, cultural, educational and political arenas, and we’ve been quite successful. We’ve had people from the Greater Tucson Convention & Visitors Bureau, from the Marana and Tucson Chambers, from small business, from larger businesses, and our political leadership has been especially supportive, both in providing staff to support the event and in attending. This year, we’re so fortunate to have County Supervisor Sharon Bronson as our honorary chair. I believe that when people see the caliber of the committee they see the caliber of the event, and begin to really look at it as an important event to support.

ITB: Has that been demonstrated?

MD: Absolutely! Last year we had 31 nominations for the 10 categories, and it required a lot of calling on our part to organizations and individuals to help spread the word that the event was worth paying attention to, but the event itself was a rousing success. This year nominations are not a problem; we stand at nearly 60 nominations and have been able to raise sponsorship dollars that we didn’t have our first year. We also have already sold tickets, something that didn’t happen until much closer to the event last year.

From the sponsorship perspective, the Arizona Daily Star has demonstrated tremendous support and has stepped up as our title sponsor for three years. Comcast, Boelts Stratford—our small business winner last year—Clear Channel, and Film Creations, Ltd., made validating commitments that I think will help the event grow roots in the community—it’s definitely needed, and this support shows that it’s wanted.

ITB: So how does one attend the event? What are the details?

MD: The luncheon will be held Thursday, May 4 at the Doubletree Hotel on Alvernon, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tickets are $35, or a table of 10 for $350. Seating is limited so we encourage folks—especially nominees—to make their reservations early! And I invite everyone to log onto the www.tucsonpimaartscouncil.org to see the many wonderful people and places that the region wants to acknowledge this year.

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