Each year, Creative Washtenaw celebrates artists, businesses, creatives, individuals, and organizations through Medals for Arts, Sciences & Humanities and THE pARTy on April 15. Together, the awards and event spotlight not just individual achievement, but the broader creative ecosystem that shapes the region.
The medals, awarded annually, were established as a way to elevate the role of the creative sector across Washtenaw County — not only celebrating artists, but also the advocates, leaders and philanthropists who sustain and grow the work.
2026 Medalists
Two recipients will receive Lifetime Achievement Medals, honoring sustained careers with national and international impact: sculptor Susanne Stephenson and gallerist Nancy Margolis, both of whom have built reputations that extend well beyond the region while maintaining deep ties to it.
The Outstanding Service Medals recognize the people who strengthen the infrastructure around the arts. This year’s honorees, David Fair—widely known as the voice of WEMU and a champion of local culture—and arts advocate Michael Jewett, have each played a significant role in connecting audiences to creative work and expanding its reach.
The Ignitors Medal, awarded to Judy Dow and Don Rumelhart, highlights another essential piece of the ecosystem: philanthropy. Their longstanding support and leadership have helped fuel creative initiatives and ensure that projects move from idea to reality.
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THE pARTy
If the medals look back at impact, THE pARTy is all about the present moment.
Set for April 15 at Washtenaw Community College’s Morris Lawrence Building, the event has grown into Creative Washtenaw’s signature annual benefit—a gathering designed to reflect the energy and diversity of the local arts scene itself. Rather than a traditional, formal gala, THE pARTy leans into a more dynamic atmosphere, bringing together artists, supporters, businesses and community members in one shared space.
Connecting community
That sense of connection is intentional. Washtenaw’s creative sector spans universities, nonprofits, independent artists and cultural institutions, often operating in parallel. THE pARTy creates a rare opportunity for those threads to intersect—and for the public to experience that collective impact firsthand.
The timing is no coincidence. The event aligns with World Art Day, linking the local celebration to a global recognition of the arts and reinforcing the idea that Washtenaw’s creative community is part of a much larger cultural conversation.
Investing in the future
As a fundraiser, the evening also supports Creative Washtenaw’s ongoing work, including advocacy for the creative economy, partnerships across sectors, and programs that expand access to the arts. In that way, the event doesn’t just celebrate the current moment — it helps sustain what comes next.
