SMarts Award

Now accepting nominations for 2021

The City of San Marcos Arts Commission is seeking nominations for the annual SMarts Award, a recognition program honoring artists, arts and cultural organizations, community members and businesses, who have contributed substantially to the cultural and artistic life of the community.

The deadline for nominations is 5 p.m. Friday, Sept. 3. Please fill out the form below and email to Arts Coordinator Trey Hatt ghatt@sanmarcostx.gov.

2021 Nomination form (FILLABLE PDF)

  1. SMarts Award Nomination Form 2021

Contribution to the Arts Recognition Program

The purpose of the San Marcos Arts (SMarts) Award program is to encourage and recognize outstanding support and enhancement of the arts and cultural life of San Marcos; to recognize the important contributions of artists and arts organizations to the quality of life and economic vitality of the community; and to encourage volunteerism and business participation with local arts organizations.

Each fall the San Marcos Arts Commission accepts nominations from the community. Awards are presented to winners October. SMarts awards are presented to individuals in our community who have made significant contributions to the creation, support, or advocacy of all art forms in San Marcos.

SMarts Award Recipients:


2019 Advocacy Awards

  • Cecy Holcomb
  • Julie Balkman/Wake the Dead
  • Kelsey Huckaby
  • Lucky Tomblin--posthumous


2018 Advocacy Awards
  • San Marcos Performing Arts Association
  • Carlos "Chitah Daniels Kennedy" Molina
  • The Price Center
  • Kevin Huffaker
2017
  • Johnnie Armstead - Posthumous Award
  • Kathryn Welch - SPARK Award
  • La Socedad Cuauhtémoc - Arts Organization Award
  • Kaitlin Hopkins - Smart Award Individual
  • Joan Nagel &Tracy Weinberg - Smart Award Individual
2016
  • Rice Harrington - Posthumous Award
  • Jordan Buckley/San Marcos Cinema Club - Spark Award
  • Lee Coleé - Smart Award Individual
  • Christopher Hansen - Smart Award Individual
  • Terri Hendrix - Smart Award Individual

2015 

  • John Hood and Daniel Hannon - Posthumous Award
  • Jody Cross - Spark Award
  • Art Squared - SMart Award Organization
  • Scott Wade - SMart Award Individual
  • Billy Ray and Beverly Mangham, Eye of the Dog Art Center - SMart Award Advocate
  • Mario Garza and the Indigenous Cultures Institute - Diversity Award

  2014 

  • Ron and Marie Jaeger
  • Deanna Badgett
  • Billi London-Gray

 2013  

  • Kent Finley
  • Kyle Mylius
  • Jerry Touchstone Kimmel

2012 

  • Ophelia Vasquez-Philo and El Centro Cultural Hispano de San Marcos
  • Linda Kelsey-Jones
  • Arlis Hiebert