FLAGSTAFF — Flagstaff Nuestras Raices & the Museum of Northern Arizona: 20thAnnual Celebraciones de la Gente has been selected as a 2024 Viola Awards Finalists for the Excellence in Collaboration category by Creative Flagstaff.
The winners of the category will be announced on March 23, 2024 at the Orpheum Theatre in downtown Flagstaff.
The 20th anniversary annual Celebraciones de la Gente — Día de los Muertos / Day of the Dead festival was held Oct. 21, 22 at the Museum of Northern Arizona.
The event, a partnership between Flagstaff Nuestras Raíces and the Museum of Northern Arizona, featured the return of the the ever-popular InTlanextli Tlacopan Aztec Fire Dancers, Ballet Folklorico de Colores — Flagstaff, El Charro Bohemia, sugar skull and other workshops, and the display of nearly two dozen ofrendas/altars in the historic Jaime Golightly Courtyard.
Click here to see a slideshow of photos from the event.
Please see entire media release below
Congratulations 2024 Viola Awards Finalists & Klee Benally as Legacy Award Recipient
Creative Flagstaff is pleased to announce the Finalists and Legacy Award Recipient for the 16th Annual Viola Awards. The Viola Awards celebrate excellence in the arts and sciences in Flagstaff, Arizona. 42 finalists are recognized across 10 categories, with some finalists being recognized in multiple categories. All finalists will be honored at the event on Saturday, March 23, 2024, at the Orpheum Theater in historic downtown Flagstaff.
Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/16th-annual-viola-awards-tickets-825751574187
(Full list of finalists below).
Creative Flagstaff is honored to recognize Klee Benally as the 2024 The Babbitt Brothers Foundation Viola Legacy Award recipient. Klee passed away in December of 2023. During his life, he fought tirelessly in defense of the land, against injustices, and in support of indigenous communities which was the foundation for his creative practice and artistry. He was an Indigenous anarchist, visual and performing artist, writer, and musician. He published “No Spiritual Surrender: Indigenous Anarchy in Defense of the Sacred” in November 2023. He played with Blackfire, which he formed with his brother and sister when he was 14 until 2012 and he recorded a solo album in 2013. He also formed “Appropriation” around 2017 which released 1 album. Klee was heavily involved with organizations and projects such as; Indigenous Action, Taala Hooghan Info Shop, Kinlani Mutual Aid, and Out Your Backpack Media. He also created Burn the Fort, which is a game of Indigenous Resistance. Klee’s passion and creativity were endless, and he is an inspiration to us all.
This year nearly 150 nominations were sent to Creative Flagstaff from members of the Flagstaff Community. At the same time, nearly 30 members of the Flagstaff community applied to serve as a panelist for this year’s awards. Panelists have the important job of determining the finalists and winners of the event. Panels were assembled based on interest and expertise. Panels met in late January to select the official Finalists which were announced Friday, February 19, 2024.
Learn more about this year’s Viola Awards here: creativeflagstaff.org/viola/2024-viola-awards/
2024 Official Viola Award Finalists
Excellence in the Visual Arts
- Bryan David Griffith: Envision
- Paula Rice: Transformation & Transcendence
- Nate Begay: Our Future, Told by the Past
- Jihan Gearon: Tricky
Excellence in the Performing Arts
- Ballet Folklórico de Colores: Paseo Navideno: A Christmas Journey Through Mexico
- The Cast of Dance Nation
- Stargazer Collaborative Theatre: Women of Broadway Cabaret
- Simon Says Theatre: Every Brilliant Thing
Excellence in Music
- iiwaa
- Tiny Bird
- Tow’rs
- Ryan Biter
- Pilcrowe
Excellence in Storytelling
- Mary Tolan: Mars Hill Murder
- Melissa Sevingy: Brave the Wild River
- Lawrence Lenhart: Backvalley Ferrets
- Lydia Gates: Flagstaff Poetry Slam Host
Emerging Artist
- Brian Price
- Nathan Henderson
- Haley Jacobey
- Jonathan Cady
Excellence in Education
- Joe Maniglia
- Betsy Hamill
- Owen Davis
Excellence in Collaboration
- Diane Immethun & FSO: Deeper Soul of Picture Canyon
- Master Chorale & NAU Community Dance Academy: Venus & Adonis
- Interference Series
- Maya Scull & Jason Libby: Nightmare Over the Rainbow
- Flagstaff Nuestras Raices & Museum of Northern Arizona: 20th Annual Celebraciones de la Gente
Community Impact (Individual)
- Emmett White
- Kimberly Robinson
- Caitlin Burd
- Wendy White
Community Impact (Organization)
- The Give Back
- Freaky Foot Tours
- Flagstaff Foundry
- Flagstaff Symphony Orchestra
- Northern Arizona Book Festival
Philanthropy Award
- Arizona Public Service
- Dark Sky Brewing
- Alice Christie
- L. Gore
Remembering Our Culture & History 