Americans for the Arts presents our Annual Leadership Awards as part of the 2021 virtual convening of the Americans for the Arts Annual Convention. These awards recognize the achievements of individuals and organizations committed to enriching their communities through the arts.

Jean Tokuda Irwin holds a B.A/M.A. from the University of Texas/Permian Basin. She is the Arts Education Program Manager for the Utah Division of Arts and Museums. She serves on NASAA/AE’s Diversity, Equity, Access & Inclusion Group & NEA/POL Accessibility Working Group, Spy Hop Advisory Board, Emerald Hills Institute Board. Past service includes panelist for NEA, sister SAAs and President’s Committee for Arts and Humanities Education; NASAA/AE Advisory Group & Leadership Taskforce, Coalition for Minorities Advisory Committee to the Utah State Board of Education; the Utah Indian Education Taskforce; National PTA Board of Directors (added dance & film/video to national Reflections Program); adjunct faculty - Odessa College, Galveston College. Western Texas College and Director of Museums (History & Art). Recipient of Utah Human Rights award/Utah Counselors Association, Ruby Chacon Award for Arts and Social Justice, the Sorensen Legacy Foundation Award for Lifetime Achievement in Arts Education and Utahns for Culture Special Honoree. Her mixed media work appeared in the 2002 Cultural Olympiad featuring 20 works by Utahns and most recently in the Clay, Paper, Scissors Gallery in Laramie, WY. She is a serial fondler of books and crafts visual journals, is an independent world cinema addict who loves traveling, weird foreign foods, and squiggly ingredients. She abhors bottled water and plastics. 

The Arts Education Award recognizes transformational leadership in arts education through strategic planning, strong programming, and the engagement of partners to achieve community goals. Stay tuned for more Leadership Award honoree highlights leading up to the virtual convening!