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(WASHINGTON, DC, January 17, 2025 )— Americans for the Arts and The United States Conference of Mayors will present the 2025 Public Leadership in the Arts Awards on Sunday, January 19, at the 93rd Winter Meeting of The United States Conference of Mayors in Washington, DC. These awards honor three distinguished leaders’ steadfast support and advocacy for the arts.
The 2025 honorees are:
- Ron Nirenberg, Mayor of San Antonio, Texas – National Award for Local Arts Leadership
- Esther Manheimer, Mayor of Asheville, North Carolina – National Award for Local Arts Leadership
- John Carney, Former Governor of Delaware – National Award for State Arts Leadership
“Mayor Ron Nirenberg, Mayor Esther Manheimer, and former Governor John Carney have each shown exceptional leadership in showing how arts and culture strengthen our communities,” said Jamie Bennett and Suzy Delvalle, Interim Co-CEOs of Americans for the Arts. “They know that the arts make us stronger – as individuals, families, cities, and states – so they have prioritized arts and culture in public policy and community initiatives focused on local economies, health and well-being, and education. Their work – and their communities – are national examples of what is possible when the public sector invests in arts and culture.”
Americans for the Arts and The United States Conference of Mayors have been presenting the Public Leadership in the Arts Awards since 1997, honoring elected officials who have demonstrated exceptional commitment to the arts in their communities. Click here for the full list of previous award recipients.
“The U.S. Conference of Mayors is pleased to recognize the exemplary work of Mayor Nirenberg, Mayor Manheimer, and former Governor, now Mayor Carney as they use the arts and culture to not only promote their city/state, but to grow their economies,” remarked Tom Cochran, CEO and Executive Director of The U.S. Conference of Mayors. “Mayors understand the inherent value of the arts to bring people together, promote cultural understanding, and make cities safer places to live, work and play.”
About the 2024 Public Leadership in the Arts Awardees
Ron Nirenberg, Mayor of San Antonio, Texas Mayor
Mayor Ron Nirenberg has long advocated for the arts and culture in San Antonio, Texas. As Mayor, he has made supporting the arts a cornerstone of his leadership, ensuring that San Antonio’s cultural community thrives and evolves.
Mayor Nirenberg introduced equity-focused policies to guide priorities, decisions, and budget allocations. This approach led to a new funding stream for arts agencies known as Culturally Specific Funding. This allocation supports underfunded nonprofit arts agencies promoting and preserving Black, Latina/o, Asian, and Native American communities. It also benefits organizations that enrich San Antonio’s cultural identity through music, dance, visual arts, and performing arts. Since its inception, these agencies have received over $15 million in support from the Department of Arts & Culture.
When the COVID-19 pandemic severely impacted San Antonio’s arts sector—largely funded by the Hotel Occupancy Tax—Mayor Nirenberg took swift action. He prioritized artists and arts organizations in the city’s recovery plan, allocating $2.6 million in ARPA funding to ensure their survival. Recognizing the arts as a key driver of economic recovery, his efforts safeguarded a vital part of San Antonio’s identity.
Additionally, Mayor Nirenberg championed increased funding for public art, successfully obtaining resources outside traditional revenue streams. This support allowed the Department of Arts & Culture to invest in staffing, maintenance, and implement a collections management system to oversee San Antonio’s public art portfolio, which includes over 800 works.
During Mayor Nirenberg’s tenure, San Antonio also saw the establishment of two new cultural spaces: the Mexican American Civil Rights Institute and the American Indians in Texas Spanish Colonial Missions’ Native American Cultural Arts Center and Gallery. These institutions, which honor the city’s rich cultural heritage, were made possible through the Mayor’s unwavering support.
Mayor Nirenberg’s legacy as a committed arts champion is firmly cemented. His leadership is a testament to the transformative power of policy and action in shaping a community’s cultural identity.
“The arts bring value and values to our lives. Through the arts, we celebrate the soul and character of the city,” said Mayor Ron Nirenberg. “I am deeply honored to accept this award and equally grateful for the work of our city’s innovative and dedicated Department of Arts & Culture team as they nurture the arts in our city and educate our community on their many benefits.”
Esther Manheimer, Mayor of Asheville, North Carolina
Mayor Esther Manheimer has long been a dedicated arts advocate in Asheville and Western North Carolina. Throughout her tenure as Mayor, she has consistently promoted the role of the arts in enriching the community, playing a vital role in the aftermath of Hurricane Helena.
In September 2024, Hurricane Helene devastated Asheville and the surrounding region, causing widespread damage to infrastructure and the economy. The arts sector was hit especially hard, with more than 250 studios, galleries, and venues in Asheville alone lost to floodwaters, landslides, wind, and fallen trees. Many artists and arts organizations also faced business interruptions due to washed-out roads, power outages, and the loss of essential services.
Coming from a family of artists, Mayor Manheimer understands the critical role the arts play in the local economy. In response to the devastation, she has risen to the challenge, ensuring that arts and culture remain central to the recovery efforts. In November 2024, she was appointed by incoming Governor Josh Stein to lead the Rebuilding Western North Carolina Advisory Committee, where she has made the arts an integral part of the region’s long-term recovery.
Mayor Manheimer has been proactive in bringing attention to the role of arts and culture in these efforts. In December, she invited ArtsAVL Executive Director Katie Cornell to speak at the North Carolina Metropolitan Mayors Conference, focusing on the importance of the arts in emergency preparedness and recovery planning. This discussion was also a key topic during the City Council’s most recent work session.
As Asheville and Western North Carolina embark on a challenging path to recovery, Mayor Manheimer’s leadership remains essential. Her resolute support for the arts ensures that the creative community will play a central role in rebuilding the region and restoring its cultural and economic vitality.
John Carney, Former Governor of Delaware
Governor John Carney’s leadership has been pivotal in advancing Delaware’s creative economy, underscoring his sustained commitment to the arts.
This commitment is evident in two consecutive $1 million increases to the state’s arts budget—an unprecedented investment that has significantly strengthened the sector and expanded opportunities for artists, cultural institutions, and creative businesses.
Under Governor Carney’s guidance, Delaware has emerged as a national model for integrating the arts into economic development. His administration’s financial support for the CREATE Plan, a groundbreaking initiative led by the Delaware Arts Alliance, has set Delaware apart as the first state in the nation to develop a comprehensive strategy for bolstering its creative economy and cultural tourism sector. The CREATE Plan demonstrates Governor Carney’s belief in the arts as a powerful tool for sustainable economic growth, cultural enrichment, and the expansion of Delaware’s tourism industry.
Governor Carney’s recognition of the arts as a cultural asset and an economic driver has played a key role in keeping Delaware’s creative industries vibrant and resilient. His continued advocacy for increased arts funding, even during times of economic crisis, acknowledges the crucial role the arts play in the state’s overall well-being.
Through his leadership, Delaware has maintained a thriving creative sector and positioned itself at the forefront of national discussions about the intersection of arts, culture, and economic development. Governor Carney’s support for the arts has had a lasting and transformative impact on the state’s creative workforce, cultural institutions, and the communities they serve.
After serving two terms as Governor, John Carney successfully ran for Mayor of Wilmington. He resigned as Governor on January 6th to be sworn in as Mayor, officially becoming the former Governor of Delaware. His remarkable dedication to advancing the creative economy and ensuring a prosperous future for Delaware’s cultural sector has left a lasting impact on the state.
Americans for the Arts is the leading national organization for advancing the arts and arts education in America. For more than 60 years the organization has represented and served local communities and created opportunities for every American to participate in and appreciate all forms of the arts.
The United States Conference of Mayors is the official nonpartisan organization of cities with populations of 30,000 or more. There are more than 1,400 such cities in the country today, and each city is represented in the Conference by its chief elected official, the mayor.
For more information, follow us on social media @Americans4Arts.
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