By Emily Christensen on Nov 9, 2025

What's happening at The SHOUT: The 2025 Arts Council Awards

They like us! They really like us! On Saturday, November 8, we attended the 55th annual Arts Council awards ceremony at Wave.

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Co-founders Teri Mott and Emily Christensen receive the organization award from Becky Tuttle, Wichita's District 2 Council Member. Courtesy photo by Hannah Crickman for the Arts Council.

Yesterday Teri Mott and I accepted a 2025 organization award from the Arts Council during a ceremony at Wave.

The SHOUT co-founders Emily Christensen & Teri Mott at the Art Council's Art Awards. *Photo courtesy of Lamphouse Photo Co.*

The Wichita-based Arts Council honored 10 individuals and organizations “for their roles in furthering the growth and development of arts in the Wichita area” at its 55th annual Art Awards.

The full list of award-winners:

Jada Li “Ray” Roberts: youth recognition award
Alan Held: Burton Pell award (honoring an individual working in the field of music)
Somewhere Fest & Conference team: special project — group award
Lee & Ron Starkel: arts advocate award
Mat Buckingham: arts educator award
The SHOUT: arts organization
Karen Robu: individual artist
Jack Silvers: Gordon W. Evans award ("given to a patron demonstrating outstanding leadership and special support for the arts")
Stev Overstreet: hall of fame award
“Voxel Clouds” by Osman Akan: Chris Cherches award (for outstanding public art project)

The Arts Council accepted nominations for each award, which were decided by a panel of four jurors: Matthew Broderick, president of the Arts Council, and artists and arts administrators Jana Erwin, Susan Mayo, and Brenda Lichman. Connie Bonfy, the council's new executive director, facilitated the process.

One exception: the Chris Cherches award, which the Design Council selected.

Harvester Arts' "human puppets" greeted attendees as they entered the event at Wave. *Courtesy photo by Hannah Crickman for the Arts Council.*

Artist Kinta McGhee and her collage that she created throughout the event. *Courtesy photo by Hannah Crickman for the Arts Council.*

Harvester Arts' "human puppets" danced to tunes provided by the Multifarious Duo. *Courtesy photo by Hannah Crickman for the Arts Council.*

This year, the Art Awards took place from 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m. on Saturday, November 8 during a brunch ceremony. Entertainment included demonstrating artists Kinta McGhee and Harvester Arts’ “human puppets” and music by Josue Estrada and the Multifarious Duo (Susan Mayo and Tim Snider).

Josue Estrada was one of the performers that played over the brunch ceremony. *Courtesy photo by Hannah Crickman for the Arts Council.*

The Multifarious Duo: Tim Snider and Susan Mayo. *Courtesy photo by Hannah Crickman for the Arts Council.*

We're honored to be recognized by our community less than two years after we launched this project, and we share this award with everyone who has made our newsroom possible — especially the 50ish writers, editors and photographers who have contributed to The SHOUT.

-Emily Christensen

If you peer into The SHOUT's office, you might catch a glimpse of McGhee's collage hanging proudly on the wall. *Courtesy photo by Hannah Crickman for the Arts Council.*

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