Arts Leadership Award Program

2025 Alameda County Arts Leadership Award Recipients

Ashara Ekundayo, Doris Green, Eric Murphy, Jay Singh, Alex Jaga Sousa and amara tabor-smith.

On Tuesday, October 14, 2025, Alameda County Board of Supervisors presented a proclamation for National Arts and Humanities Month and recognized the 2025 Alameda County Arts Leadership Award recipients. In photo (left to right) are Margaret Thornberry, Arts Commissioner; County Supervisor Lena Tam; Eric Murphy, Arts Leadership Award Recipient; Jay Singh, Arts Leadership Award Recipient; Rachel Osajima, Arts Commission Director; Doris Green, Arts Leadership Award Recipient; County Supervisor Nate Miley; County Supervisor David Haubert; Winda Shimizu, Arts Commission Chairperson; County Supervisor Elisa Márquez; amara tabor-smith, Arts Leadership Award Recipient; Alex Jaga Sousa, Arts Leadership Award Recipient; Ashara Ekundayo, Arts Leadership Award Recipient; County Supervisor Nikki Fortunato Bas; Usha Shukla, Arts Commissioner. Photo by Paul Kuroda.

Each year the appointed members of the Alameda County Arts Commission review nominations submitted by the public for the Alameda County Arts Leadership Award program and then select the award recipients. The goal is to honor an arts leader in each of the five districts of the Alameda County Board of Supervisors. During the Arts Commission’s selection process, there was a tie-vote. This resulted in awarding two individuals in County District Five. In total, six individuals received the 2025 Alameda County Arts Leadership Award. The Alameda County Arts Commission acknowledges all of the individuals who were nominated for this award program. Additionally, the Arts Commission thanks the Alameda County community members who submitted the nominations.

Nominees must be residents of Alameda County and involved in an arts discipline including, but not limited to, music, dance, visual art, literature, theater, film and video, traditional craft and folk art, and new media. Nominees must be affiliated with an Alameda County arts organization through their role as an artist, staff person, board member, teacher, volunteer, donor, supporter, advocate, etc. For complete details, please review the online nomination instructions.

The next nomination period will be from January to mid-May 2026. Nomination instructions will be posted here in January 2026.

Learn about the 2025 Leadership Award Recipients

Learn about Past Arts Leadership Award Recipients

Use this searchable database to find and learn about current and past award recipients. You can enter a person’s name, a year dating back to 2003, or an Alameda County Board of Supervisors District such as District 1. Additionally, you can click on a year below to see a list of recipients for that year. Also, you can view and download a document with a complete list of past recipients.

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