Everything you need
To Know
FAQs
What are the Omaha Entertainment & Arts Awards?
The Omaha Entertainment & Arts Awards is dedicated to recognizing and celebrating local artists, musicians and performers.
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 make Omaha a more vibrant and creative place to live.
We produce an annual awards show and showcase events in addition to other community engagement efforts.
What is the nomination criterion?
Artists, exhibitions and shows must have exhibited or performed their work between September 1 and August 31 of the year in question. To be eligible for Album of the Year, it must have been released during that time period. Nominees must reside within 100 miles of the Omaha Metro Area.
Is there anything I can do to increase my chances for a nomination?
Yes, by being active in the artistic community and rallying your fans to vote for you during the voting period. As the nominations are determined by public vote, being visible and marketing yourself is an important step.
How does the nominee selection process work?
The Omaha Entertainment & Arts Awards (OEAA) recognizes some of the most talented artists and entertainers in the Omaha area. Voting for the awards is separated into three genres: Visual Arts, Performing Arts and Live Music. To be eligible for an award, artists need to have performed or exhibited work between September 1 and August 31 of the following year.
Online public nominations close on Aug. 31, we tally the nominees in each category. Then, the public results are sent to each genre’s review committees to review and validate the public nominations to make sure they fit the criteria. A final list of nominees is then announced.
The final nominees in each category are then put on a ballot that is sent to members of the OEAA Academy, consisting of over 230 established artists, industry professionals and cultural journalists. These tallied ballots will give us our Omaha Entertainment & Arts Awards winners, to be announced at the annual awards show.
How are winners selected?
The top nominees in each category are put on a ballot that is sent to members of the OEAA Academy, consisting of more than 230 established artists, industry professionals and cultural journalists. These tallied ballots will give us our Omaha Entertainment & Arts Awards winners which will be announced at the annual awards show. Know someone who should be included in the voting academy? Email us! oea.awards@gmail.com.
How are the award categories selected?
Award categories are analyzed after every nomination season. We take into consideration genres of music and styles of art that may be seeing a resurgence or dwindling and make adjustments based on what the current scene is in Omaha or what the previous public nomination results indicate (see our past winners as an example of the changes made each year).
Due to year round voting, category edits must be changed before that public ballot opens for the next year.
How can I vote?
Click on the “Vote” link in the menu bar!
When is the voting period?
September 1 – August 31 of the ballot year. The awards show takes place the following January-February.
Where can I buy tickets to the Awards Show?
You can buy tickets on this website as the date of the awards show nears. Watch our social media pages.
How can I apply to participate in a showcase?
Reach out and let us know you’re interested at oea.awards@gmail.com.
Can I join the Board?
Our board is limited to 18 individuals and terms are 3 years. Applications for vacancies will be accepted in the Spring. We will ask for a resume and your anticipated contributions to our organization (watch our social sites and website news page).