14th Annual Ulster County Executive’s Arts Awards

Melissa Dvozenja-Thomas, Executive Director, Arts Mid-Hudson

What helps a community grow, thrive, and flourish? In Ulster County, the answer can often be found in the arts. Arts and culture shape our communities in ways both visible and invisible. They transform vacant walls into public galleries, create opportunities for young people to discover their voices, preserve cultural traditions, build connections, and bring energy to our downtowns and neighborhoods. While artists and arts organizations often work behind the scenes, their impact can be felt throughout the county every day.

On Wednesday, July 8, that impact will take center stage at the 14th Annual Ulster County Executive’s Arts Awards, presented by Arts Mid-Hudson and Ulster County Executive Jen Metzger. Held from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Diamond Mills Hotel in Saugerties, the event celebrates ten remarkable individuals, organizations, and businesses whose contributions continue to strengthen Ulster County’s creative landscape.

For fourteen years, the awards have recognized the artists, educators, businesses, volunteers, and advocates whose work enriches life throughout the county. More than a recognition program, the event highlights the collective impact of the arts on Ulster County’s quality of life, economy, and sense of place.

This year’s celebration honors the people who cultivate creativity, nurture community, and help our cultural landscape grow stronger year after year. In keeping with that spirit, this year’s awards have been created by Kingston artist Becky Sellinger, making the recognition itself a work of art crafted by one local artist to honor many others.

This year’s honorees represent the many ways creativity enriches community life. The Marlborough Arts Coalition (MaArCo) will be recognized for Art in Public Places, honoring its efforts to bring art into shared community spaces. Artivist Alessandra Gonzalez is being celebrated for using creativity as a tool for engagement and social change, while educator Maxine Leu will receive the Arts in Education Award for inspiring the next generation of creative thinkers.

HUDSY will be recognized as the Arts Organization awardee for its commitment to community storytelling and local media, while Assembly will receive the Business Award for demonstrating how the private sector can support and strengthen the arts. Longtime arts supporters TJ and Debbie Briggs will be honored with the Impact in the Arts Award for their lasting contributions to the region’s cultural vitality.

Individual Artist honoree Brenda Bufalino has spent decades preserving and advancing the art of tap dance, while Volunteer Award recipient James Martin exemplifies the dedication that helps arts organizations thrive. Rising artist Angel Brown will receive the Youth with Exceptional Promise in the Arts Award, and Matoaka Little Eagle will be honored with a Special Citation for her contributions to cultural understanding, education, and community engagement.

Together, these honorees tell the story of a thriving arts ecosystem, one that depends on artists, educators, businesses, volunteers, and organizations working together to strengthen our community. The evening is also an opportunity for artists, arts supporters, and community members to come together and celebrate the creative spirit that makes Ulster County unique. To help make the event more accessible, Arts Mid-Hudson is offering a limited number of complimentary and reduced-price tickets through its Artist Ticket Lottery.

While the awards recognize ten outstanding honorees, they also celebrate something much larger: a community that understands the value of creativity and the role the arts play in helping all of us grow, connect, and thrive.

Whether you’re an artist, arts supporter, business leader, educator, or simply someone who values the role creativity plays in community life, you are invited on July 8 for an evening of inspiration, recognition, and celebration. Together, we’ll honor the people and organizations helping the arts flourish in Ulster County and celebrate the vibrant creative community we all share.

If you go:
14th Annual Ulster County Executive’s Arts Awards
Diamond Mills Hotel & Tavern, 25 South Partition Street, Saugerties, NY 12477
Date: July 8, 2026
Time: 5:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Contact: (845) 454-3222
www.artsmidhudson.org/uc-arts-awards