Americans for the Arts announced today the recipients of the 2022 Americans for the Arts Leadership Awards at Americans for the Arts’ Annual Convention. Given annually, the awards recognize the achievements of individuals and organizations committed to enriching their communities through the arts. This year’s awards recipients are:

• Julie Garreau – Selina Roberts Ottum Award for Arts Leadership, which recognizes an individual working in arts management who has made a meaningful contribution to their local community and who exemplifies extraordinary leadership qualities.
• Adriane Jefferson – American Express Emerging Leader Award, which recognizes visionary leadership by an individual who is a new and/or young arts leader who demonstrates an ability to engage and impact their community.
• Crystal Young – Alene Valkanas State Arts Advocacy Award, which honors an individual at the state level whose arts advocacy efforts have dramatically affected the political landscape.

Nolen V. Bivens, president and CEO of Americans for the Arts, commented, “My heartfelt congratulations to these tremendous leaders, who have distinguished themselves as passionate advocates for the arts, making positive and meaningful differences to inform, engage, heal, and celebrate communities through the unique power of the arts and culture. They are fostering cultural expressions that broaden perspectives on issues, demonstrating the value and impact of the arts at the community level, and helping to envision new possibilities.”  

2022 Americans for the Arts Leadership Awardee Bios

Julie Garreau, Selina Roberts Ottum Award for Arts Leadership
An enrolled member of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, Julie Garreau (Lakota name Wičhaȟpi Epatȟaŋ Wiŋ) is executive director of the nonprofit Cheyenne River Youth Project (CRYP) in Eagle Butte, South Dakota. Since 1988, she has taken CRYP from a small youth center to a campus that includes youth and teen centers, art institute, garden, and social enterprises. In addition to completing several high-profile fellowships over the years, Garreau has been recognized with such prestigious awards as the Bush Prize for Innovation, Spirit of Dakota Award, Presidential Points of Light Award, and Tim Wapato Public Advocate of the Year Award. She is currently a 2022 Vital Village Fellow. In 2019, Garreau was honored with the Arts Education Award at Americans for the Arts’ Annual Convention in Minnesota’s Twin Cities. Read more about Garreau here.

Adriane Jefferson, American Express Emerging Leader Award
Adriane Jefferson is an executive in arts administration and cultural equity with expertise in program design, event and media production, grantmaking, external affairs, community partnerships, and new program initiatives. Jefferson is currently the director of the Department of Arts and Cultural Affairs for the City of New Haven and the executive director of New Haven Festival Inc. She specializes in professional development programming for young creative professionals, programs that amplify Black, Indigenous, People of Color and social change initiatives. She is a thought leader, adviser, and educator pertaining to issues of justice, diversity, equity, access, and inclusion. She has dedicated her career to creating programs that result in a more equitable, vibrant, and sustainable arts landscape. Jefferson is also a councilwoman for The State of Connecticut Arts Council and an Advisory Board Member for New England Foundation for the Arts. Read more about Jefferson here.

Crystal Young, Alene Valkanas State Arts Advocacy Award
Motivated by an intense desire to leave the world better than she found it, Crystal Young holds a core belief that spreading the gospel of the arts and culture will heal the world, and that arts and culture should be framed as an industry and not as a cause. Since 2010, Young has lead Utah Cultural Alliance as its executive director. She has over twenty years of experience working in nonprofit management, consulting, branding, fundraising, event planning, lobbying, and elections. A two-time Enlightened 50 (E-50) recipient from the Community Foundation of Utah, Young is a certified Utah Change Leader, was named one of Utah Business Magazine’s 40 under 40 in 2013, received a 2020 Star Award from the SCERA, has been featured as a Utah’s Educated Woman of the Week, and received the 2022 Legislative Award for Excellence in Political Affairs and Library Advocacy Award from Utah Library Association in 2022. Read more about Young here.

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Americans for the Arts is a nonprofit organization that advances the arts and arts education advocacy in America. Based in Washington, D.C., it has a record of more than 60 years of service. Americans for the Arts is dedicated to representing and serving local communities and creating opportunities for everyone to participate in and appreciate all forms of the arts. Additional information is available at www.AmericansForTheArts.org.