San Marcos Announces Date For Sixth Annual SMart Awards

Each year, the Commission seeks nominations from the community to recognize individuals and/or organizations that…

In observance of National Arts and Humanities Month, the San Marcos Arts Commission will again present its SMArts Advocacy Awards to individuals and organizations that are making a significant contribution to the San Marcos arts and cultural scene.

This year’s SMarts Advocacy Awards ceremony will be held Oct. 5 from 6-7:30 p.m. at Centro Cultural Hispano de San Marcos, 211 Lee Street.

The event is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be served.  Remarks and awards will begin at 6:30 p.m.

Six awards will be presented at the ceremony. Each year, the Commission seeks nominations from the community to recognize individuals and/or organizations that:

• Have provided an art form for public enjoyment and or participation;
• Have expanded opportunities for artists to create and/or show/perform their work;
• Have strengthened the role of the arts, encouraged learning in the arts and/or promoted continuing arts education programs;
• Have broadened public awareness of the availability, excellence, and diversity of the arts in the community;
• Any achievement that has contributed to the development of community participation in and awareness of the arts in San Marcos.

The six recipients of SMarts Awards this year represent the performing arts, cultural arts, and the visual arts are:

The Heart of Texas Chorus enriches lives through excellence in a cappella harmony, service and education. Over the 21-year span of its organization’s activity, The Heart of Texas Choir has donated over $30,000 to fund scholarships for students in the San Marcos community and has numerous annual performances such as their well renowned “United We Sing” community tribute to our nation’s first responders and “Sights and Sounds of Christmas.”

Kaitlin Hopkins is a professor at Texas State University who incorporates the #TeachMentalHealthNow program, which helps student artists recognize and cope with depression and stress related disorders, into her curriculum. Her sold-out musical productions have put Texas State University on the map as one of the top ten university musical theater programs in the country.

Tracy Weinberg and Joan Nagel have been active in the Arts Advocates of San Marcos since its origin, promoting art socials, arts openings, and local gatherings in support of arts and culture in our town. A life-long educator, Joan Nagel created the model for teaching art to children in a district with limited resources and many children. Their house concerts have provided intimate settings for local residents to deepen their appreciation of live music. In addition, Tracy Weinberg schedules the music for monthly Art Squared events which has provided a venue and voice for new musical groups providing important community exposure.

Kathryn Welch, owner/artist of River City Glassworks who is a master craftsman stained glass artist, will be awarded the 2017 Spark Award. Her works are part of the City of San Marcos’ permanent art collection and amongst restored historic homes in the community.

As recent president, Katherine has revived the San Marcos Art League into an active art group in the community from building its robust website cataloging local artists, their works, and local art events to creating social media outlets and promoting calls to artist.

She has created a hub for local artists to build their businesses and community partnerships such as Art Squared, The Mermaid Society, The Good Stuff Community Store, Elevate Bar, and more.

Johnnie Armstead is being awarded 2017 posthumous award. Mrs. Armstead was a lifelong San Marcos resident and founder of the Calaboose African American History Museum. She preserved the 134-year old building that houses the museum, raised money to renovate and secure it as a historical landmark designation.

Founded in 1942, La Sociedad Cuauhtémoc promotes and preserves the heritage and cultural identity of people of Mexican and Mexican American descent and supports many charitable activities in San Marcos, including more than $250,000 in scholarships for local students.

This is the sixth year the San Marcos Arts Commission has given out SMarts Advocacy Awards as part of its ongoing efforts to elevate, incubate and expand arts and cultural efforts in San Marcos.

For more information, visit the Arts website at http://www.sanmarcostx.gov/1352/SMart-Award; contact Lisa Morris, Recreation Programs Manager at lmorris@sanmarcostx.gov or call the San Marcos Parks and Recreation Department at 512.393.8400.