Our Sponsors
With the Support of the Nebraska Arts Council and the Nebraska Cultural Endowment.
Our History
2006
The Year It All Began
2006 marked the inaugural year for the Omaha Entertainment and Arts Awards. After months of collaboration and planning, the first show was hosted at the Holland Performing Arts Center in downtown Omaha on January 4, 2007. Filled nearly to capacity, the center hosted people connected with the Omaha entertainment industry.
Awards Spotlight:
Lifetime Achievement: Luigi Waites
Artist of the Year: Bright Eyes
Album of the Year: Happy Hollow by Cursive
Best of Show: Joe Broghammer
Best Play: The Pillowman – Blue Barn Theater
Best Director: Susan Baer-Collins – Ragtime
2007
2nd Annual Omaha Entertainment and Arts Awards
Awards Spotlight:
Lifetime Achievement: Robert “Bob” Rogers
Artist of the Year: Bright Eyes
Album of the Year: Cassadaga by Bright Eyes
Best Emerging Artist: Bart Vargas
Best Musical: Chicago – Creighton University
2008
3rd Annual Omaha Entertainment and Arts Awards
Awards Spotlight
Lifetime Achievement: Elaine Jabenis
Album of the Year: Timelines & Tragedies by Midwest Dilemma
Artist of the Year: The Faint
Best Visual Artist: Steve Joy
Hall of Fame Awards
Visual Arts: Kent Bellows
Performing Arts: Charles Jones
Music: Preston Love, Sr.
2009
4th Annual Omaha Entertainment and Arts Awards
Awards Spotlight
Lifetime Achievement: Matt Markel
Album Of The Year: Brad Hoshaw & The Seven Deadlies, self-titled
Artist Of The Year: Brad Hoshaw & The Seven Deadlies
Visual: Jun Kaneko
Best Local Slam Poet: Katie F-S
2010
5th Annual Omaha Entertainment and Arts Awards
Awards Spotlight
Lifetime Achievement: Phil Schrager
Album of the Year: It’s True
Artist of the Year: It’s True
Best Visual Artist: Leslie Iwai
Best Local Dance Production: The Rainforest Omaha Theater Ballet
2011
6th Annual Omaha Entertainment and Arts Awards
Awards Spotlight
Lifetime Achievement: Robin Welch
Album of the Year: The Peoples Key by Bright Eyes
Artist of the Year: Galvanized Tron
Visual Artist: Vera Mercer
Local Slam Poet: Matt Mason
Musical: “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” – Omaha Community Playhouse
2012
7th Annual Omaha Entertainment and Arts Awards
Awards Spotlight
Lifetime Achievement: Dave Sink
Album of the Year: Icky Blossoms, Self-Titled
Artist of the Year: Icky Blossoms
Visual Artist: Bart Vargas
Emerging Visual Artist: Gerard Pefung
Featured Dancer: Alyssa Harrington – Spring Showcase, The Moving Company
Musical Direction: Mitch Fuller – Spring Awakening, Blue Barn Theatre
View All Past Winners »
2013
8th Annual Omaha Entertainment and Arts Awards
Awards Spotlight
Lifetime Achievement: Wanda Ewing
Album of the Year: Penny Park by Matt Whipkey
Artist of the Year: Matt Whipkey
Best 2-D Artist: Mary Zicafoose
Best 3-D Artist: Jamie Burmeister
Best Actor (Play): Jerry Longe – Red
Best Actor (Musical): Brian Zealand – Evil Dead: The Musical
Best Actress (Play): Laura Marr – Gertrude Stein and a Companion
Best Actress (Musical): Echelle Childers – Next to Normal
2014
9th Annual Omaha Entertainment and Arts Awards
Awards Spotlight
Lifetime Achievement: Carl Beck and Susie Baer Collins
Album of the Year: Josh Hoyer and The Shadowboxers by Josh Hoyer and The Shadowboxers
Artist of the Year: M34N STR33T
Best Visual Artist: Watie White
Best Group Show: All the Rage – RNG Gallery
Best Musical: Young Frankenstein – Omaha Community Playhouse
Best Drama: We Are Proud to Present… – SNAP! Productions
Best Comedy: The Battle of Battles – Shelterbelt Theatre
2015
10th Annual Omaha Entertainment and Arts Awards
Awards Spotlight
Lifetime Achievement: B.J. Huchtemann
Best Visual Artist: Mary Zicafoose
Best Actor – Play: Daniel Dorner, An Illiad, Brigit Saint Brigit
Best Actress – Play: Kaitlyn McClincy, Harbor, SNAP! Productions
Album of the Year: Twinsmith – Alligator Years
Artist of the Year: Both
2016
11th Annual Omaha Entertainment and Arts Awards
Awards Spotlight
Lifetime Achievement: Eddith Buis
Best Visual Artist: Susan Knight
Best Dramatic Play: “The Feast” Shelterbelt Theatre
Best Dance Production: “Cleopatra” Ballet Nebraska
Album of the Year: Jack Hotel – Voices from the Moon
Artist of the Year: CJ Mills
2017
12th Annual Omaha Entertainment and Arts Awards
Awards Spotlight
Lifetime Achievement: Doug and Laura Marr
Best Visual Artist: Nancy Friedemann-Sánchez
Best Comedic Play: “Hand to God” SNAP! Productions
Best Comedy Ensemble: The Weisenheimers
Album of the Year: “Horse of Another World” by See Through Dresses
Artist of the Year: Josh Hoyer & Soul Colossal
2018
13th Annual Omaha Entertainment and Arts Awards
Awards Spotlight
Lifetime Achievement: Houston Alexander
Best Visual Artist: Watie White
Best Musical:“Newsies,” Rose Theater
Best Actor, Musical: Regina Palmer, “Once On This Island”
Album of the Year: “High Places,” Matt Cox
Artist of the Year: Jocelyn
2019
14th Annual Omaha Entertainment and Arts Awards
Awards Spotlight
Lifetime Achievement: Jun and Ree Kaneko
Inaugural Cultural Stewardship Award: John Heaston
Best Visual Artist: Jave Yoshimoto
Best Musical: “The Bubbly Black Girl Sheds Her Chameleon Skin,” The Union for Contemporary Art
Best Actor, Play: Jonathan Purcell, “Indecent,” Blue Barn Theatre
Album of the Year: “Promised Land,” Evan Bartels
Artist of the Year: David Nance Group
Our mission is to enhance our community by planning and producing an annual awards event that uniquely recognizes the performing arts, live arts, and live music of the Omaha area. With all-star talent and red carpet prestige, the Omaha Entertainment and Arts Awards offers a memorable evening that thanks the artists who keep Omaha culture alive.
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Artists recognized each year
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Years recognizing artists
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Cost to run the show
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Award winners each year
Our Board of Directors
Olivia Johnson
Vice President
