Here are your winners from the 2025 Rockford Area Arts Awards

March 10, 2025|By Kevin Haas|In Rock River Current, News, 815 News, Rockford, Trending, Arts & Culture
Laura Gomel Art Scene
Laura Gomel works on a painting Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2022, at 317 Art Collaborative in downtown Rockford. Gomel was named the visual artist of the year in the Rockford Area Arts Awards. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — The Rockford Area Arts Council honored a dozen artists and arts organizations on Friday with its annual Rockford Area Arts Awards.

The ceremony drew a record 400 people to the Rockford Woman’s Club, where the two-hour program included live music by the Screw City Swingers, food from a diverse array of caterers, live performances and awards.

The night culminated in bestowing the Crowning Achievement Award, honoring those involved in the Riverfront Museum Park and Coronado Theatre projects.

Here’s a look at all of this year’s winners:

Arts Educator of the Year: Jillian Myers

Distinguished Artist of the Year: Brett Whitacre

Excellence in Service to the Arts – Individual: Victor Rivera

Excellence in Service to the Arts – Organization: J.R. Kortman Center for Design

Young Arts Ambassador: Nailah Brooks

Innovation in the Arts: Bob Schlehuber

Literary Excellence: Jenna Goldsmith

Performing Artist of the Year: MychallMiller-Cornejo

Placemaking + Spacemaking: Maze Books

Production of the Year: Somnium: The Book of Forest Lament

Visual Artist of the Year: Laura Gomel

Crowning Achievement: Riverfront Museum Park and the Coronado Theatre

Faith Minneyfield, front, Ella Lakey and Margarita Arango rehearse on Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024, for “Somnium: The Book of Forest Lament” at Sinnissippi Park in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)