Mayor’s Arts Award for Distinguished Honor
2024 - Jazz Young
2023 - Jan Du Plain
2022 - Vanilla Beane
2021 - Sam Gilliam
2020 - Virginia Ali
2019 - Andy Shallal
2018 - Allyn Johnson
2017 - Davey Yarborough
Award for Excellence in Arts Education
2024 - Jazz Young
2023 - Brian Bailey
2022 - Ambassador Chinedu Felix Osuchukwu
2021 - Southeast Tennis and Learning Center
2020 - Rain Young
2019 - DC Scores
2018 - Young Playwrights’ Theatre
2017 - Sitar Arts Center
Award for Excellence as a Community Arts Advocate
2024 - See here.
2023 - Herb Scott
2022 - Keyonna Jones
2021 - Luther Wright
2020 - Ron Moten
2019 - Vernard R. Gray
First awarded in 2019
Award for Excellence as a Community Arts Philanthropist
2024 - Reggie Van Lee and Mary Brown
First awarded in 2024
Award for Excellence in the Creative Industries
2024 - DC Black Broadway
2023 - Artechouse
2022 - Art of Noise
2021 - Dior Ashley Brown
2020 - Nelson Cruz
2019 - Ian Callender
First awarded in 2019
Award for Excellence in Go-Go Music
2024 - Backyard Band
First awarded in 2024
Award for Excellence in the Humanities
2024 - DC Public Library
2023 - Kroussaw Foundation
2022 - DC Arts and Humanities Education Collaborative
2021 - Osman Alexis Milla
2020 - Joy Ford Austin
2019 - Herta B. Feely
2018 - African American Civil War Museum
2017 - Kitty Felde
Award for Excellence in Media Arts
2024 - Salih Williams
2023 - The Media Prince
2022 - Mia Hicks
2021 - Shaolin Jazz
2020 - Icy the Artist
2019 - The Content Farm
First awarded in 2019
Previous Mayor’s Arts Award winners within the past five years are not eligible to be nominated for a Mayor’s Arts Award. See list of previous winners below. Back to list of categories and descriptions.
Award for Excellence in the Nightlife Economy
2024 - Quicksilva
2023 - Shawn Townsend
2022 - Extra Pulp
2021 - Mitch Mathis
2020 - Hendres Kelly
2019 - Marc Barnes
First awarded in 2019
Award for Excellence in Performing Arts
2024 - The Kennedy Center Hip Hop Culture Program
2023 - Step Afrika!
2022 - Matthew Crittenden
2021 - Anthony Oakes
2020 - DC Black Broadway
2019 - Models, Inc.
2018 - Chloe and Maud Arnold
2017 - Dance Place
Emerging Creative Award
2024 - Lex Marie
2023 - Caressa Jennings
2022 - Tommy Taylor, Jr.
2021 - Kiarra Patterson
2020 - Artbae
2019 - Marco Kay Photography
First awarded in 2019
Award for Excellence in Visual Arts
2024 - Reggie Gillumo
2023 - Mario Sessions
2022 - David Ogburn
2021 - Coobaya LLC
2020 - Rodney Herring
2019 - Katie Burk
2018 - Cory L. Stowers
2017 - Katherine Tzu-Ian Mann
Larry Neal Writers’ Award
2024 - Deesha Dyer
2023 - Marjuan Canady
2022 - Sami Miranda
2021 - Jade Foster
2020 - Purify Love Poet
2019 - Xemiyulu Manibusan Tapepechul
2018 - Taylor Johnson
Award for Excellence in Fashion and Beauty Industries
2024 - Kym Lee
2023 - Vernon Martin
2022 - Leslie Bryant
2021 - The Museum
First awarded in 2021
Award for Excellence in Youth Creativity
2024 - Girls Rock DC
2023 - Gabby Loftin
2022 - Miles Minishotta
2021 - Fly Zyah
First awarded in 2021
