Artist Empowerment Award: The Artist Empowerment Award honors a local artist, artist-supporting organization, or artist advocate that/who uses their voice and platform to challenge traditional notions about who can become a practicing artist, and how. Nominees exemplify the breadth and depth of our communities, inspire and facilitate change, and help create and strengthen inclusive artist-centered connections and spaces. (Formerly the IDEA Leader)
Dr. Sarah Spinner
Dr. Sarah Spinner Liska is the new Director of the Kent State University Museum, a world-renowned fashion, textile, and design museum. At Kent State, Sarah has prioritized expanding access to the museum for students, as well as for local and regional communities. This year, she launched an installation on adaptive fashion, designed for people with disabilities, and worked with her team to introduce braille on museum labels for the first time. She was recently recognized with the Ohio Museums Association’s Professional of the Year Award for her work uplifting museums, artists, and arts organizations across the region. In her prior role as Managing Director of FRONT International, Sarah developed partnerships with museums and public spaces, championed WAGE certification, and led an award-winning accessibility initiative to open arts access to people of all abilities. She also founded and chaired the Ennials Alliance, a professional network of arts leaders who direct city-wide exhibitions across North America. Sarah holds a B.A. and M.A. from Johns Hopkins University, a J.D. from Yale Law School, a Ph.D. from Yale University, and an Executive Education certificate from Case Western’s Weatherhead School of Management. She is grateful to work with an extraordinary museum team and is passionate about supporting artists, celebrating the transformative power of art, and building strong community connections. Sarah serves on the Boards of the Yale Alumni Association of Cleveland, Zygote Press, and The Sculpture Center.
