Arts Treasure and Arts Advocate Award

Congratulations to the 2025 Arts Treasure and 2025 Arts Advocate!

Kara Hunnicutt, Arts Treasure for 2025: Founder and director of the Ellensburg School District Orchestra program, Kara's career includes an extensive music education program, in addition to being an accomplished professional musician performing with many regional orchestras. 

"Her impact on the Ellensburg community is seen in the faces of the hundreds of students and their families that have been a part of her programs."  stated Jeffrey Snedeker, Arts Commissioner, and parent of one of her many students. 

Mike McCloskey, Arts Advocate for 2025: Teacher and long-time arts advocate and volunteer, Mike McCloskey serves the community as a volunteer manager for the Morgan Performing Arts Center and was a member of the bond and building committee to modernize the facility in 2018. In his role at Morgan, he has established all the policies and procedures for the use of the theatre, manages all the bookings, and created a theatre safety program. In addition, he has been the lighting director for most of all of the performances held in Morgan. Always teaching, Mike has developed a student lighting design and operation program that is teaching the next generation of lighting designers. 


Learn more about how to nominate for next year:

Arts Treasure Award

The City of Ellensburg Arts Treasure award is given annually to a local artist in recognition for significant contributions and/or service to the Ellensburg Arts community. The Arts Treasure will be recognized at a special community reception. 

WHO IS ELIGIBLE?

Nominees must be a resident of Kittitas County and who has contributed substantially to the growth and development of the creative arts in the Ellensburg community.

SELECTION PROCESS & CRITERIA

  • The Ellensburg Arts Commission will solicit and collect nominations of eligible artists each year. 
  • After all nominations have been received, the Arts Treasure will be selected at a scheduled public meeting of the Arts Commission. 
  • The Arts Treasure will be decided by majority vote of the Commission. 

The Commission will take the following criteria into consideration:

  • The nominee’s impact and/or historical contributions to the creative arts in Ellensburg.
  • The nominee’s professional background.

NOMINEES MAY NOT BE:

  • Employees of the City of Ellensburg
  • City of Ellensburg Arts Commissioners or their relatives

Nominate for the Arts Treasure Award













Arts Advocate Award

The City of Ellensburg Arts Advocacy award may be given annually to an individual, group, organization, or business in recognition of significant contributions to, advocacy for, and/or support of the arts or arts education in Ellensburg. The Arts Advocate will be recognized at a special community reception. The Arts Advocate nominations open June 2, 2025, and closes on August 31, 2025.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE?

Individual nominees must be residents of Kittitas County. Groups, organizations, or businesses must be located in Ellensburg.

SELECTION PROCESS & CRITERIA

  • The Ellensburg Arts Commission will solicit and collect nominations of eligible nominees each year. 
  • After all nominations have been received, the Arts Advocate will be selected at a scheduled public meeting of the Commission. 
  • The Arts Advocate will be decided by majority vote of the Commission. 

 The Commission will take the following criteria into consideration: 

  • The nominee’s impact and/or historical contributions as an advocate for the creative arts in Ellensburg.

NOMINEES MAY NOT BE:

  • Employees of the City of Ellensburg 
  • City of Ellensburg Arts Commissioners or their relatives
  • Groups, Organizations, Businesses directly connected to Ellensburg Arts Commissioners

Nominate for the Arts Advocate Award


Awards Timeline:

 June 1, 2025:                   Nomination applications open

 August 31, 2025:              Nomination period closes

 September 15, 2025:         Award Announcements

 September/October:          Community Celebration

Music Orpheus Opera-2870Past Arts Treasure Awardees

1999 Eveleth Green                                 2000 Christine Zeigler                    2001 Donna Nylander                      2024 Julie Prather

2002 James Hawkins                               2003 Peter Gries                           2004 Marge Corman

2010 Louis Kollmeyer                               2015 Sue Wilson                            2015 Jane Orleman

2016 Art Clark                                         2016 Bev Ombrek                           2017 Lenny Price

2018 Rob Fraser                                      2019 Theresa A. Young                    2023 Carrie Rehkopf Michel