2024 Honorees
YOUTH AWARD
IN LAK'ECH DENVER ARTS
This award is presented to an individual or organization that has significantly impacted the lives of youth in the City and County of Denver through the arts, or a young person who has made a noteworthy difference in the community through the arts.
In Lak’ech Denver offers an array of youth programming at the Re:Vision Gallery office in Westwood and nearby neighborhoods in Southwest Denver. They offer free weekly classes to youth in a wide variety of media including a Folklorico Dance program, a Youth Mariachi Group, photography, puppetry, papier-mâché, ceramics, and visual arts classes, all led by talented local BIPOC artists. These classes allow students to delve into their ancestry, creating traditional art forms and crafting installations and performances for community cultural events.
INNOVATION AWARD
MUSEUM FOR BLACK GIRLS
This award is presented to an individual or organization that is breaking new ground in the arts and whose contribution to innovation in the arts has been significant in 2023 or 2024.
Museum for Black Girls centers the experiences and perspectives of Black girls in their exhibitions and events. The museum's innovative approach to curating exhibitions, storytelling, and community engagement sets it apart as a cultural leader. Through its creative programming and collaborations, the museum pushes boundaries and inspires new ways of thinking about art and identity. By fostering a culture of innovation, Museum for Black Girls continues to shape the future of arts and culture, ensuring that Black girls' voices are heard and celebrated on a national stage.
JEDI AWARD
COURTNEY OZAKI
This award is presented to an individual or organization that has focused on justice, equity, diversity and inclusion (JEDI) through their work.
Courtney Ozaki is a third and fourth generation Japanese American and founder of the Japanese Arts Network (JA-NE). Founded in 2018, JA-NE provides access to resources, programs, and platforms that support, advance, and strengthen visibility for Japanese artists and culture in America. Courtney also co-founded the Western Arts Alliance ‘Hyphen+Asian’ committee, a collective of Asian Pacific Islander community members with a shared interest in advancing API engagement, opportunity, intersectionality, equity, and programming in the performing arts across the West. Her deep connections in the community have enriched the lives of countless Denverites.
GLOBAL AWARD
MUSEO DE LAS AMERICAS
This award is presented to an individual or organization that has brought Denver’s arts and culture to the national or world stage. Nominees for this category have received national or international recognition.
Museo De Las Americas is dedicated to educating the community through collecting, preserving, interpreting, and exhibiting the diverse Latin American arts and cultures, from ancient to contemporary, through innovative exhibitions and programming. Museo showcases the best of Latin American and Indigenous art and culture to visitors from around the world, offers a wide variety of educational programs, and strives to create a space where all Denverites can learn about and appreciate diverse cultures.
IMPACT AWARD
COLORADO DRAGON BOAT
This award is presented to an individual or an organization that has made a significant and lasting impact on arts and culture in the City and County of Denver, with at least 10 years of history in the arts in the City and County of Denver.
Ms. Gillette has been a Denver resident for 52 years. She has been actively involved in the Denver Indian Community by serving on boards of directors, and as speaker, panelist, emcee, and head dancer. She maintains close ties to her familial home in North Dakota by participating in traditional ceremonies and other events. She participates in the Atonement Lutheran Church, the Fort Berthold Native American Church Chapter, and Dead Grass Society. Grace has been the Executive Director for the Denver March Powwow (DMPW) for 33 years. Under her leadership, the DMPW has received many accolades and awards. She is most proud of the DMPW permanent exhibits in the Library of Congress and the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian. She has been blessed by being named in "Who's Who in Denver Business" and was selected as one of “Denver’s 150." Grace was honored to bestow a traditional blessing upon Mayor Hancock at his first inauguration. The American Indian College Fund named her "Elder of the Year." She was inducted into the Denver & Colorado Tourism Hall of Fame. Ms. Gillette gave the keynote address for the Martin Luther King, Jr. Awards Luncheon which provided an opportunity to share her culture. In the 32 years of the event, she was the second woman and first Native American to be keynote speaker. The National Indian Council on Aging prepared a 11-minute video of her life, “SwaHuux, Following Grandma’s Path,” which is on YouTube. Dance/USA virtually presented her with their Trustee Award in March 2021 for her work in the field of dance.
