Dance
Nominees may be dancers, choreographers, or dance instructors.
Drama & Theatre Arts
Nominees may be actors or other creative professionals such as directors; “behind the scenes” practitioners such as costumers are also eligible.
Music
Nominees may be musicians, composers, vocalists, or music instructors.
Visual Arts & Design
Nominees may be artists utilizing any medium, including but not limited to painting, photography, sculpture, or computer-generated.
Literary Arts
Nominees may be poets, writers of fiction, non-fiction, plays, essays or history.
Dr. Tom Rische Arts Education
Nominees may be instructors in any arts discipline, at any level.
Emerging Artist
Nominees may be from any category, and will possess skills commensurate with someone in the beginning stages of a professional career and will be able to articulate a clear set of career goals.
Katy Geissert Award
The Katy Geissert Award recognizes outstanding support for all the arts in the South Bay. The Geissert award is open to anyone who contributes to the arts in the South Bay regardless of their residence. Eligible awardees might include philanthropic individuals, outstanding organizations, corporations, or other institutions – or innovators who have had an impact. They may be selected for their contributions to the arts in programmatic, artistic, organizational, volunteer, advocacy, funding and any other area that provides substantial and recognizable support for the arts in the South Bay.