Awards of Excellence
This award, established in 2009, recognizes remarkable Mexican Americans, Chicano/a/e/x, and Latino/a/e/x individuals or groups who have demonstrated utmost artistic excellence or distinguished service, leadership, and dedication to the cultural arts of Austin, TX.
The list of nomination categories, a Frequently Asked Questions section, and a full list of past award recipients by year may be viewed farther down on this page.
Nomination 2026
The nominations are open from March 9, 2026 to April 10, 2026. To nominate someone using the English Form, please use this link:
Awards of Excellence Nomination Form 2026
To nominate someone using the Spanish Form, please use this link:
Formulario de Nominacion 2026
INFORMATION ABOUT THE AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE
Nomination Categories
As human beings with many talents, the work of those in our community may span more than one category. In those cases, the award review committee will determine final placement of the nominee in the award category that best reflects an individual's work, contributions, and impact.
Emerging Artist
Those who have demonstrated artistic excellence as a beginner to mid-career artist of any age (but may also include youth).
The Arts
Those currently working as a professional artist including: visual arts, dance, music, theater, radio, TV, film, performing arts, and history. Know a great arts administrator? Consider the Service Award category instead.
Service
Those who have demonstrated outstanding service as a volunteer, employee, or professional in arts administration, community-based organizations, and more in the cultural arts.
Arts Educator
Those who have demonstrated unparalleled commitment in education in our community in the cultural arts.
Lifetime Achievement
Those who have demonstrated a lifetime of passion and dedication to the cultural arts. Their career/ contributions often span 30+ years.
Posthumous Award
Those who in their lifetime made a significant contribution to the cultural arts.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ'S)
- How are the MACC Awardees selected?
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The MACC has an award review committee made up of previous Awards of Excellence winners and community members who represent diverse backgrounds, ages, experience in various art forms, occupations, and community involvement.
Panelists do not receive the list of nominees until after the nomination process is closed to preserve the integrity of the process.
- Are nominations accepted past the deadline?
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The short answer is no. No nominations will be received after the deadline EXCEPT under an official extension due to receiving a low amount of submissions by the original deadline.
At least a minimum of 40 submissions must be received in order to have a fair and equitable review process by the panelists. Official extensions are announced publicly at the time of the original deadline (if not enough submissions were received by that time).
- Can I nominate anyone?
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Nominations are open to everyone except City of Austin employees and officials. City of Austin employees and officials cannot nominate NOR be nominated. These awards are determined by the community.
You may submit up to 5 nominations total. Please make sure that the person you are nominating has not received an award before - the full list of winners to date is on this webpage.
- Does the Award come with a prize?
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There is no monetary prize. Award winner names are carved into the Petalos sculpture at the ESB MACC. See bottom of this page for more info about Petalos.
- Who determines the award category?
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As human beings with many talents, the work of those in our community may span more than one category. In those cases, the award review committee will determine final placement of the nominee in the award category that best reflects an individual's work, contributions, and impact.
- Is the nomination form the only way to nominate someone?
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The ESB MACC will accommodate anyone who is unable to fill out the nomination form on a computer or smart phone. Please email Marie.Ortiz@austintexas.gov for assistance.
Past Awards of Excellence Recipients: 2009-2025
2025
Courtney Enriquez, Emerging Artist
Claudia Chapa, The Arts
Chuy Chacon, Service
Walter Guzman, Arts Education
Fred Cantu, Lifetime Achievement
Daniel Llanes, Lifetime Achievement
Watch the 2025 Ceremony!
2024
Ana Barajas, Emerging Artist
Mauricio Callejas, Arts
Velia Sanchez Ruiz, Service
Adolph Ortiz, Arts Educator
Dolores Carrillo Garcia, Lifetime Achievement
Gilberto Cardenas, Lifetime Achievement
Marcelo Hernandez Tafoya, Lifetime Achievement (Posthumous)
Maria Emilia Martin, Lifetime Achievement (Posthumous)
VIEW 2024 Awards of Excellence Ceremony
2023
Jacqueline Olivier - Emerging Artist
Serena Tijerina - Emerging Artist
Raul Garza – The Arts
Roj Rodriguez – The Arts
Bertha Rendon Delgado - Service
Monica Araoz- Arts Educator
Zita V. Vázquez – Arts Educator
Paul Saldaña- Lifetime Achievement
Dr. Roén Salinas – Lifetime Achievement
Yolanda Sanchez – Lifetime Achievement
Farah Rivera – Lifetime Achievement (posthumous)
Henry Gonzalez – Lifetime Achievement (posthumous)
VIEW 2023 Awards of Excellence Ceremony
2021
Ana Maciel, Service
Dr. Maggie Rivas-Rodriguez, Service
Bobbie Garza-Hernandez, Lifetime Achievement
Dr. Angela Valenzuela, Lifetime Achievement
Jose Pasco, Emerging Artist
Fany Macias, Emerging Artist
Lydia Cdebaca Cruz, Arts Educator
Dr. Tracey Flores, Arts Educator
Mery Godigna-Collet, The Arts
Federico Archuleta, The Arts
VIEW 2021 Awards of Excellence Ceremony
2019
John Estrada, Emerging Artist
Leticia Urieta, Arts Educator
Ender Martos, Visual Art
Ire'ne Lara Silva, Literary Art
Carrie Rodriguez, Music
Luis Guerra, Lifetime Achievement
2018
Lesly Reynaga, Emerging Artist
Dr. Emilio Zamora, Service
Nancy Flores, Media Arts
Fidencio Duran, Visual Arts
Ruben Ramos, Music
Martha P. Cotera, Lifetime Achievement
2017
Tomas Salas, The Arts
Edgar Yepez, Arts Educator
Hector Miranda, Emerging Artist
Gloria Mata-Pennington, Lifetime Achievement
Enrique Cruz, Patronage
Karla Saldana, Service
Arturo Lomas Garza, Lifetime Achievement (posthumous)
2016
Liliana Wilson, Visual Arts
Tomas Medina, Music
Toni Bravo, Dance
Hector Galán, Film
Rupert and JoAnn Reyes, Theater
Michael Anthony Garcia, Multidisciplinary
Nora Comstock, Patronage
Council Member Renteria, Service
Gerardo Arellano, Emerging Artist
Roberto Mendoza, Arts Education
Sylvia Orozco, Lifetime Achievement
2015
Jaime Salvador Castillo, Emerging Artist
Paloma Mayorga, Emerging Artist
Mario José Troncoso, Emerging Artist
Frank Rodriguez, Service
Rene Renteria, Service
Raul Ramirez, Service
Dr. Andrés Tijerina, Lifetime Achievement
2014
Ezekiel “Zeke” Robert Castro, Lifetime Achievement
Eugenio del Bosque, Service
Mary Gonzalez-Reyna, Music
Rodolfo “Rudy” Mendez, Theater & Dance
Cynthia Pérez, Service
Ishmael Soto, Visual Arts
José Treviño, Visual Arts
Tiarra Girls, Emerging Artist
Telemundo Austin, Patronage
Lonnie Guerrero, Sr., Lifetime Achievement (posthumous)
Americo Paredes, Lifetime Achievement (posthumous)
Ben Moncivais, Lifetime Achievement (posthumous)
Margarita Munoz Simon, Lifetime Achievement (posthumous)
2012
Claudia Zapata, Service
Alfredo Estrada, Patronage
Anthony Ortiz Jr., Emerging Artist
Austin Latino Theater Alliance, Arts
Raul Valdez, Lifetime Achievement
Manuel “Cowboy” Donley, Lifetime Achievement
Johnny Degollado, Lifetime Achievement
2011
Latinitas, Service
Gavin Garcia, Patronage
Luis Ordaz, Emerging Artist
Sam Z. Coronado, Arts
Maria F. Salinas, Lifetime Achievement
2009
Simon Orta, Service
About Pétalos
Robert Mezquiti's Pétalos is a permanent art installation at the ESB-MACC thatserves as an award wall in which members of the Mexican-American Community are honored. Pétalos is a series of petals, each representing an equal part of our cultural fabric. Each individual petal honors a member of our community who has contributed significantly through service or art and holds a place for those who will continue to shape our culture in the future. Pétalos embodies the potential of infinity- only possible through the collection of continuous equal parts.
