The Business Council for the Arts (BCA) honored regional businesses, municipalities, nonprofit organizations, and individuals for their extraordinary support of arts and culture in North Texas at the 2023 Obelisk Awards. The ceremony took place at the new JW Marriott Dallas Arts District hotel on Thursday, Nov. 9, 2023.
Co-Chairs of the 2023 Obelisk Awards were Evan Singer, BCA Board Member and Partner at Jones Day, and Rachael Singer, VP of Compensation at Albertsons Companies. The Honorary Co-Chairs were Tom Leatherbury and Patricia Villareal, and Presenting Sponsors were Nancy A. Nasher and David J. Haemisegger.
Guests at the Obelisk Awards ranged from executives at notable companies, including Capital One, Corgan, Neiman Marcus and PepsiCo, to institutions like the Ann & Gabriel Barbier-Mueller Museum: The Samurai Collection, Chamberlain Ballet, Dallas Symphony Orchestra and the Nasher Sculpture Center. The Dallas Opera provided a live musical performance featuring Baritone, Erik Earl Larson and Pianist, Kirk Severtson.
The honorees were as follows:
- Robyn Flatt of the Dallas Children’s Theater, Legacy Award
- Mary Brinegar of the Dallas Arboretum, Lifetime Achievement Award
- Gayle Halperin of Bruce Wood Dance, Visionary Nonprofit Arts Leader
- Cece Smith, Business Champion for the Arts
- Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum, Distinguished Cultural Organization
- Genesis Inspiration Foundation, Arts Education
- Goldmark Cultural Center, Arts Partnerships
- Cabaniss Management & Kessler Presents, New Initiatives (Small)
- Virgin Hotels Dallas, New Initiatives (Large)
- Raymond Rowell of the University of North Texas College of Music, Outstanding Leadership Arts Alumnus
Under the guidance of its diverse Board of Directors, with Nancy A. Nasher as Founder's Chair and Joel Austin as Board Chair, the Business Council for the Arts (BCA) operates as a non-profit organization dedicated to representing over 150 prominent businesses and organizations in North Texas.
BCA plays a pivotal role in gathering economic data to support arts and cultural organizations in North Texas. Additionally, it acknowledges the contributions of businesses, non-profits, and individuals to the arts and culture sector while actively training future board leaders for key arts and cultural institutions in the region. The organization's central focus lies in supporting North Texas' arts and culture scene.
Complementing its core initiatives, BCA conducts robust member and community programs aimed at fostering business growth and bolstering the creative economy. The Obelisk Awards, a standout BCA program, recognizes businesses, non-profit organizations, and individuals making significant contributions to arts and culture in North Texas. The Leadership Arts Institute, BCA's distinguished board leadership training program, and member programs that promote creative workforce development are integral components of BCA's comprehensive approach to supporting the arts in the region.
