The Connecticut Arts Hero Awards honor and celebrate Connecticut residents who are doing extraordinary things in the arts, for the arts, and through the arts in Connecticut. Since 2016, the Connecticut Arts Hero Awards have honored remarkable individuals engaged in or supporting the arts - some publicly and some behind the scenes. Learn about previous Arts Heroes here .

If you know a special someone who has contributed significantly to the arts in Connecticut, please take a moment to nominate this individual. The deadline to submit a nomination is February 3, 2020 at 11:59 p.m.

The Arts Hero Awards will be presented at an open-to-all, free evening event on Wednesday, May 6, 2020 at Infinity Hall in Hartford.

The 2020 Connecticut Arts Hero Awards will be dedicated to our dear friend, colleague and arts leader Elizabeth L. Mahaffey who passed away in October 2019.

Ms. Mahaffey, affectionately known to many as Betsy, was an extraordinary mentor to young professionals pursuing a career in arts administration. The Elizabeth L. Mahaffey Arts Administration Fellowship was established upon her retirement after more than 20 years of dedicated service at the Connecticut Commission on the Arts. The Fellowship is awarded annually to young arts administrators and provides funding for professional development opportunities.