Drum Roll, Please! Congratulations to the Lewiston Council on the Arts (LCA), which has received the Spark Award for the DEC Program of the Year. This was presented by the Arts Services Initiative (ASI) of Western New York.
If you have attended any of the Lewiston Council on the Arts events, you will understand this outstanding achievement is well deserved!
The Arts Services Initiative (ASI) presented its Seventh Annual celebration honoring outstanding artists, projects, and cultural organizations in Western New York State. The 2020 Gala Event was presented online due to COVID.
M&T Bank, in an online symposium, Presented the Seventh Annual Spark Awards. Please see the sponsors at the end of this article.
List of Awards Presented
- Arts Integration Award – The Children’s Guild Foundation’s Autism Spectrum Disorder Center at Oishei Children’s Hospital.
- DEC Program of the Year Award – Lewiston Council on the Arts Iroquois Market
- Lifetime Achievement Award – Vincent O’Neill
- Rising Star Award – West Falls Center for the Arts
- Supporter of the Cultural Sector Award – Joel Feroleto
- Trailblazer of the Arts Award – Michele Agosto
- Unsung Hero Award – Beth Pedersen
- Organization of the Year Finalist Award – 1891 Opera House
- Organization of the Year Finalist Award – O’Connell & Co.
- Organization of the Year Finalist Award – Imoqie Theatre Co.
- Artist of the Year Finalist Award – JoAnn Falletta
- Artist of the Year Finalist Award – Chris Handley
- Artist of the Year Finalist Award – Edreys Wajed
Jen Swan Kilpatrick, Executive Director of The Arts Services Initiative (ASI), and Holly Grant, Program Director for ASI, led the event’s proceedings.
Jen Swan Kilpatrick, Executive Director of The Arts Services Initiative (ASI), began by saying. “We are here to honor powerful creative, and inspiring individuals and organizations. They have a long-lasting impact on our arts community—all while raising funds for ASI to work in the field.”
At mark 15:18 on the video appearing on YouTube—began the award presentation accepted by Eva Nicklas, Artistic Director of LCA, on behalf of the Lewiston Council on the Arts.
“It is a great honor to recognize the Lewiston Council on the Arts for their program and collaboration on The Iroquois Market, said Jen Swan Kilpatrick.”
A pre-recorded acceptance speech was aired that had been taped in a lovely autumn leaves scene.
Eva Nicklas proceeded to say, “On behalf of all of us with Lewiston Council on the Arts. I want to thank our friends and supporters at ASI. Thank you for the honor of receiving this Spark Award. We treasure the relationships that we share with our Native American neighbors. I want to thank from the bottom of my heart the artists, musicians, dancers, and artisan crafters for their enthusiastic participation in this event.”
Eva continued, “We want to dedicate this award to the memory of Francine Patterson, who was so important to the success of the Iroquois Market. We could not have done it without her!”
Eva then asked Francine Pedersen’s husband, Neil Pedersen, to say a few words.
“DEC Program of the Year Spark Award! It is amazing… we did this! I’m glad The Council on the Arts got this award and dedicated it to my wife. She’s going on ahead of us, and I miss her. We used to come down here to our festival before this. I used to think, hey, this would be a good thing for some of our native crafters to show their wares.”
Neil Patterson went on to say that the enthusiasm and help from the Lewiston Council on the Arts, people and members involved, plus a lot of the Native Crafter Artisans, made it happen.
“It takes everybody to make things happen, and that’s exactly what happened last year in 2019. Hopefully, this virus will leave us soon, and with that hope, we can actually be able to do this again in the future. We can come and enjoy each other’s company again. It’ll be a great thing!”
Lewiston Council on the Arts has been honored for its ‘Iroquois Market’ Event, which was held in August 2019 alongside the 54th Lewiston Art Festival.
Lewiston Council on the Arts partnered with the Tuscarora Nation showcasing Native artisans and performers from both the United States and Canadian sides of the border. The performers included dancers, drummers, musicians, and traditional native handcraft artists.
The whole event promoted and showcased the arts. Family-centered participation in the event was enjoyed by the public at large. Many came from surrounding areas to attend the event. It was also well attended by tourists visiting this historic area.
The usual year-round schedule of events, in non-COVID times, which are presented and supported by Lewiston Council on the Arts, has drawn tens of thousands of people to the area since its founding in 1967. In addition to promoting a wide range of artists, it has engaged the community and visitors alike to learn and participate more in local art and culture. The history of the area is showcased in fun ways that appeal to all age groups.
The Arts and Artists are the glue that keeps a community thriving. Promoting individual creativeness benefits all segments of society. In fact, in this day and age, when people move for work or business, they often research the cultural and artistic aspects of a community that it is hoped will enrich theirs and their family’s lives.
Please Support the Sponsors of the Event
M&T Bank, in an online symposium, Presented the Seventh Annual Spark Awards.
Supporting Sponsors, BlueCross BlueShield of Western New York, Buffalo Spree, and Rigidized Metals Corporation. Patron Sponsors, Equitable Advisors, Ferguson Electric, L&M Financial, and Savarino Companies.
Friends of ASI Sponsors, Buffalo Urban Development Corporation (BUDC), Chautauqua Institution, Erie County Industrial Development Agency (ECIDA), e3communications, Montante Group, MusicalFaire Theatre, Onion Studio, Inc. Tri-Main Development, Univera Healthcare, and those who donated and pre-purchased tickets to the Event.
Friends and Members of Lewiston Council on the Arts. Many thanks!
See another event, The Secrets Of The Ghosts of Marble Orchard – Lewiston Council on the Arts
for mentions of creative people, books, products, places, or businesses mentioned in this post.
