Topeka’s artists, musicians, writers and arts advocates will take center stage Friday, Oct. 16, as ArtsConnect hosts the 2026 Arty Awards at Heritage Hall inside the Stormont Vail Event Center.
This year’s theme is “The Art of Being Human,” focusing on creativity, empathy and authentic human connection at a time when rapidly changing technology is reshaping the way people work, communicate and create.
Six individuals and organizations will be honored this year:
- Sunflower Music Festival — Liz Stratton Arts Champion Award
- J’Quory Guest — Community Arts Award
- Compass Point — Suki Blakely Performing Arts Award
- Stephanie Muñoz-O’Neil — Glenda Taylor Visual Arts Award
- Anamarie Davis-Wilkins — Literary Arts Award
- Tonix & Tunes — People’s Choice Award
The evening will also feature a special tribute to one of the important figures in Topeka art history.
ArtsConnect will unveil a newly commissioned portrait of the late Glenda Taylor, a celebrated ceramic artist and former professor and chair of the Washburn University Art Department. The portrait was created by Topeka painter and muralist Zandra Sneed-Dawkins, who received the Glenda Taylor Visual Arts Award in 2025.
The portrait is part of ArtsConnect’s Untold Stories Project, which seeks to preserve the stories of people who have helped shape Topeka’s arts community. A locally produced documentary about Taylor’s life, work and influence is also expected to premiere later this fall.
The Arty Awards serve as both an annual celebration of the people making Topeka and Shawnee County more creative and a fundraiser supporting ArtsConnect’s work in the community.
For one night, some of the painters, poets, musicians, educators, venues and advocates who keep Topeka’s arts scene moving will all be under the same roof.
And that sounds like a pretty good reason to celebrate.
