2026 Dearborn Mayor’s Arts Awards
Schedule
Wed, 20 May, 2026 at 07:00 pm
UTC-04:00Location
Dearborn's Ford Community Ctr. Performing Arts | Dearborn, MI
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Join us for an evening dedicated to the creative pulse of our city! Mayor Abdullah Hammoud, the Dearborn Community Fund and the Dearborn Recreation Commission/ Cultural Arts Committee cordially invite you to the 2026 Mayor’s Arts Awards. Since 1988, this annual tradition has celebrated the artists, educators, and organizations that make Dearborn a vibrant cultural destination. This year’s ceremony will honor local heroes across five key categories who have consistently enriched our lives through their talent and dedication.Event Details
Date: Monday, May 20, 2026
Time: 7:00 PM
Location: Studio A, Ford Community & Performing Arts Center
Admission: Open to the public at no charge
The Evening Includes:
Awards Presentation: Witness the official recognition of the 2026 Artist/Performer, Arts Educator, Patron, Organization, and Volunteer award winners.
Live Entertainment: Enjoy special performances from local Dearborn talent.
Reception: Stay after the formal program for a reception to mingle with the honorees and fellow art enthusiasts.
2026 ARTS AWARDS NOMINEES
EDUCATOR: MOHAMED BAZZI Mohamed has been an art teacher in the Dearborn Public School system for more than 25 years providing exceptional learning opportunities for countless students. He is currently on the Fordson High School staff. Mohamed, along with now retired art teacher Wendy Sample, was instrumental in forming the Pockets of Perception (POP) Design Team program and served in the role of on-site supervisor for several projects.
ARTIST/PERFORMER: ISABELLA SIERZPUTOWSKI Isabella (Izzy) has emerged from her time with the POP Design Team program where she has proven to be a leader lending her artistic talent to several projects and filling the role of Assistant POP director. She has given generously of her time to work on community arts related activities e.g. DIA Inside/Out artist, Paint Out in the Park (Homecoming), the Dearborn-Detroit Block Party and more. A graduate of Dearborn Edsel Ford High School where she was named senior artist, she is a great example of someone who is a creative leader.
ORGANIZATION: MICHIGAN RUGG ARTISTES Established in 2002, the local chapter is part of the national rug artists group. Based in Dearborn and meeting at the FCPAC, the group has 36 members. The artists regularly attend workshops and participate in national exhibit projects and opportunities. In 2004, the Dearborn area chapter hosted a national exhibition that included workshops, exhibits and other activities.
PATRON: ROTARY CLUB OF DEARBORN With a history of more than 100 years of service to the greater Dearborn community, Rotary Club of Dearborn has supported countless programs that benefit the community. Examples include: awarding of hundreds of scholarships to high school students pursuing further education in both academic and vocational areas, providing major financial support for the Kingfisher Bluff Project, the Environmental Interpretive Room at the University of Michigan, and the Centennial Library Theater renovation to make it more handicap accessible. Dearborn Rotary has been a longstanding supported of the Dearborn Symphony and the POP Design Team public art projects.
VOLUNTEER: BRENDA LEMECHA Brenda has worked tirelessly in her role as treasurer for the Dearborn Symphony AND the Friends of the Dearborn Symphony over a period of 10+ years. She also oversees the Symphony Endowment Fund which is structured to ensure the continued success of the organization. She has provided valuable assistance in preparing grants that benefit the Symphony resulting in thousands of support dollars. Thorough, precise and always prepared, Brenda is one of the Symphony’s major assets.
SPECIAL RECOGNITION: BERNI HERM Berni has been the “glue” behind so many arts related activities for over 40 years. Cookie baker, seamstress, and general “go to” person to get things done, Berni is always ready to lend a hand, share her knowledge, solve the problem and fill the gap. A creative problem solver, Berni has always stepped in when needed including working tirelessly to rescue the Dearborn Youth Symphony back about 30 years ago as the organization struggled to survive. It should be noted that the Dearborn Youth Symphony is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.
MAYOR’S AWARD: DEARBORN YOUTH SYMPHONY (DYS) Celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, the Dearborn Youth Symphony has provided extraordinary opportunities for aspiring young musicians from middle school through high school. Participants come from far and wide to experience the DYS; many have gone on to pursue music careers. Conductors receive a compensation, the governing board is composed of dedicated volunteers. 50 years x 65 musicians (an average) = 3,250 young musicians. 50 years x 2 concerts per year = 100 concerts
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Where is it happening?
Dearborn's Ford Community Ctr. Performing Arts, 15801 Michigan Ave,Dearborn,MI,United StatesEvent Location & Nearby Stays:
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