Artists with Disabilities – Art Spark Texas https://www.artsparktx.org Mon, 30 Mar 2026 17:51:50 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.1.3 https://www.artsparktx.org/wp-content/uploads/cropped-sm-rotated-sticks-web-32x32.png Artists with Disabilities – Art Spark Texas https://www.artsparktx.org 32 32 The 9th Artist of the Year Awards at Rollins Theatre https://www.artsparktx.org/event/the-9th-artist-of-the-year-awards-at-rollins-theatre/ Sun, 27 Sep 2026 18:00:00 +0000 https://www.artsparktx.org/?post_type=tribe_events&p=74789 Artist of the Year Awards 2026 at Rollins Theatre September 27th from 1:00pm - 4:00pm at Rollins Theatre located at the Long Center - free and open to the public, honoring artists with disabilities, senior and veteran artists

Join Art Spark Texas at the Rollins Theatre on September 27 from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm at the Long Center for the Performing Arts in Austin.

Celebrate and honor local artists with disabilities, along with veteran and senior artists, through awards and cash prizes. This event offers an inclusive, accessible, and welcoming environment and stands as one of Austin’s most inspiring award ceremonies with catering and live music.

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John Bramblitt, a blind painter and artist of the year award winner 2025, accepts his award from art spark texas board member.

Celebrating Our 8th Annual Artist of the Year Awards

What an honor it was to spotlight so many extraordinary artists at our 8th Annual Artist of the Year Awards—an event dedicated to centering and celebrating artists with disabilities.

Every year, our community nominates artists across several categories, and we gather at the Rollins Theatre in Austin, Texas to honor their achievements. This year’s awardees included John Bramblitt, Zachary LaViola, Joel Colosimo, Matthew Alaniz, Gladys Keeton, and Spirit Thom. It was a joy to connect with the community, celebrate their accomplishments, and shine a well-deserved light on their voices.

The Artist of the Year Awards uplift artists with disabilities, aging artists, and veteran artists—recognizing not only their art but also their impact in their communities. Each honoree receives a stipend, a commemorative plaque, and the opportunity to share the moment with friends, family, and supporters. To tell their stories, Art Spark Texas creates video interview montages featuring voices from the artists’ communities, offering a moving glimpse into their journeys and creative legacies.

This gathering is more than an award ceremony, it’s a celebration of belonging. Each year, we bring together artists, community members, Art Spark Texas staff, and board members in a space that is inclusive, welcoming, and diverse.

Scroll down to watch the videos we created for each winning artist, learn more about their work, and don’t forget to follow and support their incredible artistry.

John Bramblitt - The Art Spark Texas Haven Street-Allen Artist of the Year Award 2025

Matthew Alaniz - Lynn Marie Johnson Media Arts Award Winner 2025

Zachary LaViola - SPARK Award Winner 2025

Gladys Keeton - Gloria Bond Creative Aging Award Winner 2025

Spirit Thom - Director's Commendation Award Winner 2025

Special thanks to the staff at the Long Center's Rollins Theatre, the Art Spark Texas Board Members, the award winners and families/communities, and everyone that helped us honor and celebrate this year! See you next September at Rollins Theatre.

All Photographs from the 2025 Art Spark Texas Artist of the Year Awards were taken by Steven Rogers Photograpy

]]> https://www.artsparktx.org/2025/10/02/artist-of-the-year-awards-2025/feed/ 0 Artist of the Year Awards 2025 https://www.artsparktx.org/event/artist-of-the-year-awards-2025/ Sun, 21 Sep 2025 18:00:00 +0000 https://www.artsparktx.org/?post_type=tribe_events&p=50745 Art Spark Texas annually honors artists in the discipline of visual art, dance, music, theater, performance art, craft, media and writing. Each year, the Artist of the Year Awards are given to Texas artists who embody the spirit and vision of Art Spark Texas, and who challenge the perceptions of how people contribute by demonstrating artistic excellence or leading the way as a community catalyst for change. Invite your friends and family for this free community event and help us honor our artist winners!

Artist Awards are in 4 Categories:

The Haven Street-Allen Artist of the Year Award honors an individual whose work affirms that the power of an artistic spirit, combined with determination and will, can influence and shape our society. Each year, this award is given to an artist with a disability in Texas who embodies the vision of Art Spark Texas.

The Lynn Marie Johnson Media Arts Award honors an artist who displays passion and commitment to the promotion and awareness of people with disabilities in our digital world. Each year, this award is given to an artist with a disability in Texas whose work as producer, artist, writer, director or other creative in the media arts embodies the mission of Art Spark Texas.

The SPARK Award honors an up-and-coming artist who represents the inclusive, arts-inspired world that Art Spark Texas works to create every day. Each year, this award is given to an emerging Texas artist with a disability whose infectious and innovative spirit shifts perceptions of what people with disabilities can achieve.

The Gloria Bond Creative Aging Award honors an older artist who continues to express their creativity and/or demonstrates a willingness to explore new art forms as they age. Each year, this award is given to a Texas artist who exemplifies the vital aging philosophy of Art Spark Texas. Nominations are open to any individual over the age of 65 years in any discipline, including visual art, dance, music, performance, craft, media and writing.

Each award includes an honorarium and an invitation to attend our annual event as a guest of honor to be publicly recognized for their achievements. The 2025 event will be in Austin on Sunday, September 21st, 2025 from 1-4 pm at the Rollins Theatre. Travel expenses will be covered for out-of-town awardees.

A panel of judges will jury nominations and the results will be announced in June 2025.

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