Fairfax, VA (October 30, 2024) — The 2025 ArtsFairfax Awards, the region’s premier event to honor major arts contributions in Fairfax County, raised a record high in both funds and attendance in support of the nonprofit’s efforts to amplify and invest in the local arts sector. Though fundraising remains open, the luncheon raised an all-time high of over $224,000 by the close of the event.
Held Friday, October 24, at the Hyatt Regency in Reston, the 2025 ArtsFairfax Awards welcomed approximately 420 business professionals and elected officials as well as arts and community leaders, exceeding past events by nearly 100 guests. With 16 dignitaries from federal, state, and local jurisdictions in the room, a sense of urgency underlined the importance of arts funding at all levels of government.
“At the federal level, we’ve encountered some challenges when it comes to support for the arts. We’ve seen the cancellation of grants and the negative impact that has had on artists and arts organizations here in Virginia and across the country. I want you to know that you have in Congress a steadfast advocate and champion for the arts, and I will do everything in my power to ensure that federal funding for the arts continues and grows over time,” said Congressman James Walkinshaw, representing Virginia’s 11th District.
With a program hosted by Michael Liberman, ArtsFairfax Board Chair, Peggy Fox, ArtsFairfax board member, and Stuart Holt, ArtsFairfax President & CEO, the annual event raises the awareness of how support for the arts drives social and economic growth.
This year’s award recipients included retired U.S. Air Force General Lester L. Lyles with the Jinx Hazel Award for his investment in the education programs at Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts; Timothy E. Rizer with the Philanthropy Award for his leadership support of the Workhouse Arts Center; Iranian-American Community Center—Pars Place with the Impact Award for creating cross-cultural community for the Persian diaspora; and South Lakes High School teacher Marco Rando with the Education Award for his STEAM Team Public Art program. The honorees received an original work of stained glass by Diane Cairns, who was commissioned by ArtsFairfax to create this year’s awards.
ArtsFairfax Awards attendees enjoyed a live performance of the kamancheh, an Iranian stringed instrument, by Narmin Adiban, and a vocal performance by first-time ArtsFairfax Operating Support Grantee Sopranessence.
Reston Community Center was the event’s Visionary Sponsor, and McGuireWoods was Lead Sponsor.
Patron Sponsors included Accenture, BXP, Capital One Hall, Claude Moore Charitable Foundation, Comstock, Federal Realty, Fractional Firm Advisors, the Gupta Family Foundation, Shelly Hazel, HGA, Kaiser Permanente, Leidos, Macerich, McLean Community Center, PBMares, Reston Town Center Association, Tim Rizer, and Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts.
Table Sponsors for the event included Suzanne Bissell and Julie Carter, Loren Hershey and Phillip Niedzielski-Eichner, John King, Michael Liberman, and Marian Perkins, as well as Clark Construction, DLA Piper, Dominion Energy, Edens, Visit Fairfax, The Funderburke Group, Land Design & Ballard Spahr LLP, Merrill Lynch, Renaissance Centro, PREIT, Tower Club, and Walsh Colucci Lubeley & Walsh.
Nonprofit Table Sponsors included Celebrate Fairfax, George Mason Center for the Arts, Iranian-American Community Center–Pars Place, McLean Project for the Arts, Public Art Reston, and Workhouse Arts Center.
Ad Sponsors included AMorrison Consulting, Atlantic Union Bank, Cooley, and the Mather.
In-kind Sponsors included Du Col Portraits, Encore Global, Fairfax County Neighborhood and Community Services, Fairfax County Television Channel 16, Flower Gallery of Manassas, and Hyatt Regency Reston.
As Fairfax County’s local arts agency and sole grant maker dedicated to arts funding, ArtsFairfax sustains the critical services, resources, and support that the nonprofit provides for the local arts sector and the broader community. The nonprofit serves more than 200 arts and culture nonprofits by distributing County funds to the arts, connecting artists and arts organizations to each other and to other sectors, and promoting arts and culture activities for approximately 1.2 million residents throughout Fairfax County, the City of Fairfax, and the City of Falls Church. By offering vital funding, advocacy, and professional opportunities to the local arts sector, ArtsFairfax promotes the arts’ capacity to cultivate community and fuel social and economic growth.
ArtsFairfax is driven by the belief that the arts are essential to our lives and strengthened by a diversity of perspectives, experiences, and audiences. Incorporated as a 501(c)(3) in 1964, ArtsFairfax is funded in part by the County, Virginia Commission for the Arts, and National Endowment for the Arts, as well as corporations, foundations, and individuals.
