MONROE, La. (KNOE) – The Northeast Louisiana Arts Council invites the community to celebrate artists, businesses, educators and volunteers in the arts community on Thursday, June 12.
The 40th annual NELA Arts Awards will honor nominees in categories including Arts Educator of the Year, Performing Artist of the Year, Visual Artist of the Year, Emerging Artist, BART Award, and Volunteer of the Year.
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2025 nominees for each category are as follows.
Visual Artist of the Year
- Inique Harris
- Sara Beth Howard
Performing Artist of the Year
- Cathy Webb, nominated by Jessica Rainwater-Grigson
- Grayce Sander
- Amelia Haynes Littleton
- Kinsey Coleman
Business Art (BART)
- Gilley Enterprises/McDonald’s
- West Monroe-West Ouachita Chamber of Commerce
- Progressive Bank
- UPS Store West Monroe/Doug Harvey
Volunteer of the Year
- Ashlyn Sifford
- Jenny Hendricks
- Mike Shore
- Carmen McNew
- Karla Curtis
- Megan Wilkins
- Hal Hinchliffe
- Juliann McCann
Dorothy “Dot” Bassett Emerging Artist
- Anna Beth Ellerman
- Ara Arcilla
- Ashlyn Underwood
- Ryleigh Geis
Arts Educator of the Year
- Karen Sharp, Ouachita Christian School
- Leah Retizell, Sterlington High School
- Matthew Knopps, Ouachita Parish Gifted & Talented
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