Annual Champion of the Arts

Cultural groups, organizations, and local citizens nominate Grand Junction businesses and individuals for this honor to recognize their generosity, dedication, promotion, and support of the arts, and the award winners are selected by the Commission on Arts and Culture. 
In the fall of each year, the Commission on Arts and Culture invites nominations for the two annual Champion of the Arts Awards.  The awards are given to one Grand Junction business (located within the city limits) or organization, and one individual who/that epitomizes leadership, generosity, and dedication towards arts and culture.  The selection criteria are:

 ~ A consistent and on-going commitment to support, sustain & promote arts & culture/artists/arts organizations;
~ Financial donations and underwriting support and/or generous in-kind professional support and assistance;
~ Extensive volunteer time and continued, sincere, above-and-beyond involvement (for individuals).

The awards to these recipients are artwork by local artists.

Congratulations to the 2012 Champion of the Arts AwardWinners
The Grand Junction Commission on Arts and Culture is proud to announce the winners of the Champion of the Arts Award for 2012. 

Business Category 
The business award goes to Doyle Trading Consultants. Steve and Sibylle Doyle of Doyle Trading Consultants were nominated by Marnie and James Werner of High Desert Opera. Supportive since the founding of High Desert Opera, the Doyles have given of their talents, business acumen, and finances. According to Marnie Werner, "The truth is that without the Doyles, High Desert Opera would not be celebrating its 10 year anniversary this year!" When the Doyles were asked why they support the arts in Grand Junction they stated, "...Sibylle and I are very fortunate to be in a position to help support organizations, who are comprised of people who passionately give so much of themselves and who reveal in their singing voices, their musical instruments and their acting skills the true beauty and happiness of life."


Individual Category
The individual award goes to Harold P. Moss and his wife Ruth (posthumous). Harold and Ruth Moss were nominated by Camille Silverman, Executive Director/Curator of The Art Center. Since the inception of The Art Center in 1953, Ruth as founder and Harold as donor and volunteer, have been a part of this organization for 60 years. The Mosses support The Art Center Foundation through the Ruth Moss Endowment Fund, which ensures the Summer Art Camp stays financially accessible to all children. "Harold continually brings in new members and is our living history storyteller. There is no bigger advocate for The Art Center. He has loved art and The Art Center all of his adult life." states Camille.

Artists
Congratulations to local artists Susan Stanton and Mary Mansfield who's artwork was chosen to be given as the awards!


Past Champion of the Arts Award winners

1994 - Norwest Bank (Wells Fargo Bank)
1995 - First Federal Savings Bank  and  Frame Works & Gallery
1996 - Hoskin, Farina, Aldrich & Kampf  and  Haining Plumbing & Heating
1997 - City Market  and  Taco John's (12th Street) 
1998 - Home Loan & Investment,  Elite Expressions,  and Grand Cleaners
1999 - Energy Air Drilling Company  and  Picture This
2000 - Elam Construction, Inc.  and  Working Artists Studio
2001 - Alpine Bank  and  Planet Earth & the 4 Directions Gallery
2002 - Old Chicago Restaurant  and  The Neon Factory
2003 - Cole & Company/Century 21 Realty  and  The Coffee Studio
2004 - Grand Junction Free Press   and   The Crystal Café
2005 - The Daily Sentinel,  Kay Ambrose, and Karen Hildebrandt
2006 - FCI Constructors, Inc.  and  Sara Alyn Oakley
2007 - Arlene Baker & U. S. Bank  and  Connie Robbins-Brady & MCVSD 51 Art Heritage Program
2008 - Enstrom Candies  and  Terry Shepherd, and Honorable Mention 13 Photography
2009 - St. Mary's Hospital & Medical Center, Pamela Blythe of Blythe Group + Co., and Krystyn Hartman/Grand Valley Magazine and Honorable Mention Stephen Boelter
2010 - Wells Fargo & Dean Massey and John & Angie Moss
2011 - Roper Music and Chuck & Robbie Breaux