Skip to main content
Language Translation
Governor Mike Braun
  Close Menu

Governor's Arts Awards

About the Indiana Governor’s Arts Awards

To recognize outstanding achievement and contributions to arts and creativity in Indiana, the Office of the Governor Mike Braun with the Indiana Arts Commission present the Governor’s Arts Awards, the highest honor the state gives in the arts. These awards honor those who support, build, or amplify arts and creativity in Indiana, creating strong Indiana communities where people choose to live, work, and create. Potential recipients include individuals (artists, leaders, advocates, philanthropists, educators, elected officials); organizations and businesses (nonprofit or for profit); tourism entities; towns or cities; schools; or libraries from rural or metro areas of Indiana.

The IAC coordinates the presentation of the Governor’s Arts Awards. The Commission solicits nominations for award recipients and coordinates the selection process and commissions an Indiana artist to create custom works of art to serve as the awards.
 
The 2026 Governor's Arts Award recipients will be announced in December and celebrated at ceremony at the Statehouse in early 2027.
 
 

Submit a Nomination

The nominations for the 2026 Governor’s Arts Awards are open now and will close on October 30, 2026, 11:59 p.m. ET. The nomination form consists of a narrative, which introduces the nominee's accomplishments and contributions, and optional support materials that further highlight the nominee.    

Nominations are open to organizations or individuals who work or reside in Indiana or have significant ties to the state through some years of residency.  A selection committee comprised of representatives from the Office of the Governor and the Indiana Arts Commission will review and evaluate nominations based on criteria such as depth and breadth of impact, quality of community engagement, and artistic excellence. 

Read the Request for Nominations and submit a nomination.   

 

Request for Qualifications for Artist-Made Award

In addition to the award nominations, the Indiana Arts Commission is seeking an artist or artist team to submit qualifications for the creation of seven custom works of art for the 2026 Indiana Governor’s Arts Awards.  There are no restrictions on content, medium, or style, but each piece must reflect the purpose of the Governor's Arts Awards to recognize outstanding achievement and contributions to arts and creativity in Indiana. The deadline to reply to the Request for Qualifications is October 30, 2026, 11:59 p.m. ET.

Read the Request for Qualifications.

 

The IAC coordinates the presentation of the Governor’s Arts Awards. The Commission solicits nominations for award recipients and coordinates the selection process, and the awards are presented by the Governor and First Lady of Indiana.

The Indiana Governor's Arts Awards are produced by the Indiana Arts Commission, which receives support from the Indiana General Assembly and the National Endowment for the Arts. The Indiana Governor's Arts Awards are presented in partnership with the Office of the Governor.