Presented every two years, the Mayor's Awards for Excellence in Arts & History celebrate people, organizations, and businesses that contribute to Boise's creative and cultural community. Award recipients must have demonstrated distinguished service, creative accomplishment, and a record of publication, presentation or research that enhances Boise's artistic, historic, and broader cultural life.

2025 MAYOR'S AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE IN ARTS & HISTORY

Join Boise Mayor Lauren McLean and the Boise City Department of Arts & History on Thursday, September 18, 2025 at 6 p.m. in the Pioneer Room at Jack's Urban Meeting Place (JUMP) to recognize distinguished service in the following categories:

Excellence in the Arts

• Ballet Idaho – Professional Ballet Company
• Frank Goitia – Visual Artist, Painter
• Serenata Orchestra – Community Orchestra

Excellence in History

• Gwyn Hervochon – Associate Professor and Archivist, Albertsons Library, Boise State University

Excellence in Education

• Alex Sjobeck, Derek Ganong, and the Gene Harris All-Stars Jazz Program at Boise State University – After-school program designed for high school students

Support of the Cultural Sector

• Esther and Skip Oppenheimer – Community Members

Emerging Artist

• Hallie Maxwell – Interdisciplinary Artist

Lifetime Achievement

• Mark Hofflund – Managing Director, Idaho Shakespeare Festival

On the same evening, Mayor McLean will announce the next City of Boise Cultural Ambassador for 2026 and 2027. Learn more.

Event Schedule

• 5:30 p.m. Doors open & No-host Bar Service
• 6:00 p.m. Performances by Pendulum Early Music and Story Story Night
• 6:30 p.m. Awards Ceremony
• 8:30 p.m. Social Hour

On the same evening, Mayor McLean will also appoint the 2026-2027 City of Boise Cultural Ambassador. Learn more.

The evening will feature performances by Pendulum Early Music and Story Story Night. Evening host and music by KRVB - 94.9 The River's Tim Johnstone. Dinner catered by Thomas Cuisine Management. No host bar.

Tickets

• General Admission: $45 | Child (under the age of 12): $15 
• Sponsored Table (seats 8): $550

GET TICKETS HERE

For more information, email artsandhistory@cityofboise.org or call (208) 608-7050.

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PAST AWARD RECIPIENTS

2023

• Excellence in the Arts: Brett Perry – Dancer, Educator, Curator/Producer
• Excellence in History: Bob H. Reinhardt – Associate Professor, Department of History, Boise State University
• Excellence in Education: Idaho Youth Barbershop Festival – Annual School Choral Festival
• Support of the Cultural Sector: Rich and Georgiann Raimondi – Community Members & Idaho Women’s Charitable Foundation – Philanthropic Organization
• Emerging Artist: Miguel Angel Almeida – Visual Artist, Muralist
• Lifetime Achievement: Carole Skinner of The Flicks – Independent, Foreign, and Art Films Theater

2021

As a government agency and with a responsibility to support Boise’s creative and cultural sector, the Boise City Department of Arts & History brought about several initiatives to support the creative community in a time of crisis. In lieu of the biennial Mayor’s Awards for Excellence in Arts & History, the first ever Mayor’s Appreciation Day for Arts, History, & Culture was held on September 16, 2021 in celebration of our broader cultural sector with performances by and compensation for these irreplaceable workers. Learn more.

2019

• Excellence in the Arts: Randy Van Dyck
• Excellence in History: Idaho Black History Museum
• Lifetime Achievement: Tom Tompkins

2017

• Excellence in the Arts: Sue Latta
• Excellence in History: Jennifer Stevens
• Excellence in Education: James Jirak
• Emerging Organizations: LED & Sector Seventeen
• Support of the Arts: Rocci Johnson & Radio Boise
• Spotlight Award: Boise Art Museum - 80th Anniversary

2015 

• Excellence in Arts: Carl Rowe, Individual & MING Studio, Emerging Organization
• Excellence in Art Education: Marguerite Lawrence
• Excellence in the Field of History: Errol Jones
• Support of the Arts: Driek and Michael Zirinsky
• Business Support of Culture: Modern Hotel & Bar
• Lifetime Achievement: John Colias 

2013

• Excellence in Arts--Individual: Kerry Moosman
• Excellence in Arts--Organization: Boise Contemporary Theater
• Excellence in History--Organization: Friends of Jesus Urquides
• Business Support for the Arts: U.S. Bank
• Excellence in Art Education: Individual, Rick Jenkins
• Excellence in Art Education: Organization, Boise Rock School
• Excellence in History Education: Kurt Zwolfer
• Excellence in Arts-- Support for the Arts / Individual: Susan Smith
• Excellence in Arts-- Support for the Arts/ Organization: L.M. Cummingham Foundation
• Excellence in Arts-- Emerging Organization: Treefort Music Fest
• Lifetime Achievement: Pug Ostling
• Lifetime Achievement: Esther Simplot
• Sesquicentennial Award-- Community: Phil Kushlan
• Sesquicentennial Award-- Enterprise: Idaho Statesman
• Sesquicentennial Award-- Environment: Donald Belts Jr.

2011

• Excellence in Arts--Individual:  Surel Mitchell
• Excellence in Arts--Organization:  The Cabin
• Excellence in History--Organization:  Basque Museum and Cultural Center
• Excellence in History--Individual: Mark Baltes
• Business Support for the Arts:  Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center
• Business Support for History:  Planmakers (John Bertram)
• Excellence in Art Education--Organization: Idaho Shakespeare Festival
• Excellence in Art Education--Individual: Leah Stephens Clark
• Excellence in History Education:  Doug StanWiens, Boise School District
• Lifetime Achievement:  Jane Oppenheimer (posthumously)
• Lifetime Achievement:  Tim Woodward, retired, Idaho Statesman 

2009

Excellence in Arts--Organization:  Boise State University Student Union
Individual Support for the Arts: Jacqueline Crist
Business Support for the Arts: Flying M Coffee House
Excellence in Art Education: Fool Squad
Lifetime Achievement: Arthur Hart
Lifetime Achievement: Charles Hummel
Excellence in History--Organization: Idaho Historical Museum
Excellence in Arts--Individual: Steve Fulton
Excellence in History--Individual: Todd Shallat
Excellence in History Education: Robert Sims
Business Support for History: TAG Historical Research and Consulting

2007

Excellence in Art Education: Phil and Wendy Hartman
Excellence in Art Education: Jon Swarthout
Individual Support for the Arts: Kay Hardy and Gregory Kaslo
Business Integration of the Arts: Classic Design Studio / Noel and Lucy Weber
Business Support of the Arts: The Record Exchange/ Jill Sevy and Michael Bunnell
Artistic Excellence in the Arts: Anthony Doerr
Artistic Excellence in the Arts: Matthew Cameron Clark
Artistic Excellence in the Arts: Curtis Stigers

2005

Artistic Excellence in the Arts: Ward Hooper
Artistic Excellence in the Arts: Jennifer Martin
Artistic Excellence in the Arts: James Ogle
Individual Support for the Arts: Rick Clark and Liz Roberts
Business Support of the Arts: Key Bank
Business Support of the Arts: First Thursday, presented by Downtown Boise Association
Excellence in Art Education: Paul Shaffer, Log Cabin Literary Center
Spotlight Award: Boise Music Week

2003

Artistic Excellence in the Arts: Star Moxley
Artistic Excellence in the Arts: Gene Harris
Individual Support for the Arts: Royanne Minskoff
Business Support of the Arts: Boise Cascade
Excellence in Art Education: John O'Hagan
Excellence in Art Education: Boise Art Museum Docents
Spotlight Award: Capital City Development Corporation

2001

Charles Fee
Del Parkinson
Marilyn Beck
First Security/Wells Fargo
Joe Baldassarre
Ballet Idaho Education Department
Ruth Wright
Idaho Foundation for Parks & Lands

1999

Oinkari Basque Dancers
Stephanie Wilde
Noreen Shanafelt
Pug Ostling
Ore-Ida/Grant Jones
Boise Little Theater

1997

Alan Minskoff
Michael Baltzell
Toni Pimble
Sandy Harthorn
Rick Jenkins
The Flicks

1995

West One Bank
Pat Nelson
Boise Arts Museum
Idaho Shakespeare Festival

1993

Beaux Arts Society
Doug Copsey
Mary McKenzie

1991

Howard Huff
Melvin Shelton
Eugene Sullivan, M.D.

1990

Idaho Theater for Youth
John Killmaster
Arthur M. Albanese

1989

John Elliot
Boise Philharmonic
John Chapman

1988

Elizabeth Schlaeffle Ratcliff
Mimi Copsey
Jim Jausoro

1987

C. Griffith Bratt
Boise Master Chorale
David Horland

1986

John Takahara
Esther Simplot
American Festival Ballet