SMARTS AWARDS

2026 SMarts Awards nominations now open 

The San Marcos Arts Commission is calling for nominees for 2026 SMarts awards now through Sept. 14, 2026.

Click here to fill out the online nomination form

This is the fourteenth year the San Marcos Arts Commission has presented SMarts Advocacy Awards as part of its ongoing efforts to elevate, incubate and expand arts and cultural initiatives in San Marcos.

The purpose of the San Marcos Arts (SMarts) Award program is to encourage and recognize outstanding support and enhancement of the arts and cultural life of San Marcos; to recognize the important contributions of artists and arts organizations to the quality of life and economic vitality of the community; and to encourage volunteerism and business participation with local arts organizations.

Past SMarts Award Recipients:

2025 ~~~~

• Debangana Banerjee: artist and art educator
• Jeffrey Brown: film maker and organizer of the monthly “Second Tuesday” film series
• Mothership Studios: local art studio known for their annual San Marcos Studio Tour
• Tantra: locally owned coffee house and burgeoning hub for the local music scene

2024 ~~~~

• Garrie Borden: Artist, volunteer and served on the Art Squared art market original planning committee, as well as the Price Center’s Art Committee.
• Paul Collins and Anlo Sepulveda: the directing team for the feature documentary YAKONA
• Isauro “E.Z.” Maldonado (Spark Award): performing songwriter, band leader and show host
• Mark Lambdin (posthumous): Artist, art show organizer, and long-time member of the San Marcos Art League.

2023 ~~~~

• Margo Handwerker: Chief Curator and Director of the Texas State Galleries at Texas State University
• Rene Perez: practicing artist and creator of several murals around San Marcos, including the mini murals downtown
• The San Marcos Artists’ Retention and Training Orchestra (SMART Orchestra)
• Sylvia Sandoval: organizer of the annual SMTX Pride celebration

2022 ~~~~

• Margaret Adie - practicing artist, founding member of 218 Co-Op Gallery, and member of the Price Center Arts Committee
• Chris Cooper - long-time art educator recently retired as Arts Coordinator for San Marcos High School
• Broke Thespian's Theatre Company (Spark Award): up-and-coming local theatre troupe 

2021 ~~~~

• Ana Baer Carrillo – choreographer and instructor at Texas State University 
• Kelly Stone – performer and comedian 
• Christine Terrell – artist, volunteer, and San Marcos Art League board member  

2019 ~~~~

• Cecy Holcomb
• Julie Balkman/Wake the Dead
• Kelsey Huckaby
• Lucky Tomblin--posthumous

2018 ~~~~

• San Marcos Performing Arts Association
• Carlos "Chitah Daniels Kennedy" Molina
• The Price Center
• Kevin Huffaker

2017 ~~~~

• Johnnie Armstead - Posthumous Award
• Kathryn Welch - SPARK Award
• La Socedad Cuauhtémoc - Arts Organization Award
• Kaitlin Hopkins - Smart Award Individual
• Joan Nagel &Tracy Weinberg - Smart Award Individual

2016 ~~~~

• Rice Harrington - Posthumous Award
• Jordan Buckley/San Marcos Cinema Club - Spark Award
• Lee Coleé - Smart Award Individual
• Christopher Hansen - Smart Award Individual
• Terri Hendrix - Smart Award Individual

2015 ~~~~

• John Hood and Daniel Hannon - Posthumous Award
• Jody Cross - Spark Award
• Art Squared - SMart Award Organization
• Scott Wade - SMart Award Individual
• Billy Ray and Beverly Mangham, Eye of the Dog Art Center - SMart Award Advocate
• Mario Garza and the Indigenous Cultures Institute - Diversity Award

2014 ~~~~

• Ron and Marie Jaeger
• Deanna Badgett
• Billi London-Gray

 2013 ~~~~

• Kent Finley
• Kyle Mylius
• Jerry Touchstone Kimmel

2012 ~~~~

• Ophelia Vasquez-Philo and El Centro Cultural Hispano de San Marcos
• Linda Kelsey-Jones
• Arlis Hiebert