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Social Impact Artists
Meet the Denver artists whose practice champions positive impact and social justice. Start with the newest awardees, then trace the award's history.
The Social Impact Artist Award backs Denver artists whose work addresses the social needs of their communities.
What it is
Each awardee receives $50,000: a $35,000 unrestricted award and a $15,000 grant for a socially engaged project, completed within a year. Awards are made every two years.
Where it came from
Bonfils-Stanton Foundation has honored artists and leaders through its Annual Awards since 1984. In 2024 the Foundation and Denver Arts & Venues launched the Social Impact Artist Award as the next chapter, and the 2026 awards marked its second cycle.
Why it matters
The award recognizes artists whose practice is inseparable from community, and prioritizes artists and culture bearers from historically marginalized communities across Denver.
Applications closed. Next applications open Spring 2028.
About the awardArt that moves Denver
Meet Jeff Campbell, Chelsea Kaiah and Suzi Q. Smith, the first artists to receive the Social Impact Artist Award in 2024.
Directed by Anthony Grimes
Watch the film
Awardee archive
Every cohort by year, along with the Foundation's Annual Awards that came before.
2024
Jeff Campbell · Chelsea Kaiah · Suzi Q. Smith
Bonfils-Stanton Annual Awards, 1984 to 2020
The Social Impact Artist Award grew out of the Foundation's Annual Awards, which honored Coloradans in the categories below.
Artist Award (formerly Arts and Humanities)
2020 Ed Dwight
2019 Senga Nengudi
2018 Carlos Frésquez
2017 Marina Mosina
2016 Curtis W. Fentress, FAIA, RIBA
2015 Dianne Reeves
2014 Eleanor “Ellie” Caulkins
2013 Pelham G. Pearce, Jr.
2012 Patricia Nelson Limerick, Ph.D.
2011 Dianne Perry Vanderlip
2010 Hal Gould*
2009 Hugh A. Grant
2007/08 Maggie Divelbiss*
2006 John D. Anderson, FAIA*
2005 Calvin M. Frazier, Ed.D.*
2004 Lewis I. Sharp, Ph.D.
2003 Marin Alsop
2002 Rick J. Ashton, Ph.D.
2001 Morley Ballantine*
2000 Jil Rosentrater*
1999 Martin Fredmann
1998 Noël R. Congdon
1997 Lillian Covillo* and Freidann Parker*
1996 Albert C. Yates, Ph.D.
1995 Robert W. Craig*
1994 Jan Perry Mayer and Frederick R. Mayer*
1993 Daniel L. Ritchie
1992 Bruce M. Rockwell*
1991 Duain Wolfe
1989 Nathaniel Merrill*
1988 Edward R. Baierlein
1987 Otto Karl Bach, Ph.D.*
1986 Gordon Hardy*
1985 Cleo Parker Robinson
1984 Lloyd E. Worner, Ph.D.*
Arts and Society Award (formerly Science and Medicine)
2020 Catherine O’Neill Thorn
2019 Damon McLeese
2018 Susan Jenson
2017 Arts and Humanities in Healthcare Program at the Center for Bioethics and Humanities
2016 Children’s Hospital Colorado
2015 Kristi Anseth, Ph.D.
2014 David A. Schwartz, M.D.
2013 Leslie Leinwand, Ph.D.
2012 Temple Grandin, Ph.D.
2011 Marion Downs*
2010 Charles A. Dinarello, M.D.
2009 Henry N. Claman, M.D.*
2007/08 David J. Wineland, Ph.D.
2006 Deborah S. Jin, Ph.D.*
2005 John L. Hall, Ph.D.
2004 Philippa Marrack, Ph.D. and John Kappler, Ph.D.
2003 Stephen J. Withrow, D.V.M.
2002 David W. Talmage, M.D.*
2001 Robert W. Schrier, M.D.
2000 Susan Solomon, Ph.D.
1999 Warren M. Washington, Ph.D.
1998 Robert T. Schooley, M.D.
1997 Carl E. Wieman, Ph.D.
1996 Victor M. Spitzer, Ph.D.
1995 John E. Repine, M.D.
1994 Marvin H. Caruthers, Ph.D.
1993 Randi J. Hagerman, M.D.
1992 David Patterson, Ph.D.
1991 Geno Saccomanno, Ph.D.*
1989 Thomas R. Cech, Ph.D.
1988 Gilbert F. White, Ph.D.*
1987 Gordon Meiklejohn, M.D.*
1986 Arthur Robinson, M.D.*
1985 Walter Orr Roberts, Ph.D.*
1984 Theodore T. Puck, Ph.D.*
Community Service in the Arts Award
2020 Marcela de la Mar
2020 Susan and Jeremy Shamos
2019 Anthony J. Garcia
2018 Arlene and Barry Hirschfeld
2017 Stephen W. Seifert
2016 Merle C. Chambers
2015 Adele Phelan
2014 David E. Greenberg
2013 Tim Gill
2012 Robert G. Tointon
2011 Bruce and Marcy Benson
2010 Patricia A. Gabow, M.D.
2009 Hank Brown
2007/08 Harry T. Lewis, Jr.
2006 Frederic C. Hamilton
2005 Carol Gossard*
2004 Elaine Gantz Berman and Steve Berman, M.D.
2003 Noel Cunningham*
2002 Nancy Gary, Ph.D and Sam Gary
2001 Anna Jo Haynes
2000 Patricia D. Kelly*
1999 Marion R. Gottesfeld*
1998 Anabel C.* and Jerome P. McHugh*
1997 E. Atwill Gilman*
1996 Dana H. Crawford
1995 Katherine W. Schomp*
1994 Nellie Mae Duman
1993 Edward A. Robinson and Richard L. Robinson
1992 Edith M. Sherman, Ph.D.*
1991 Elizabeth H. Paepcke*
1989 Sister Mary Andrew Talle*
1988 Beatrice W. Vradenburg*
1987 Ellen G. Harris*
1986 Richard D. Lamm
1985 John C. Mitchell II*
1984 William H. McNichols, Jr.*
Applications are closed
Next applications open Spring 2028. Eligibility and the application live on the award page.
Artists in the news
Recent coverage of Social Impact Artist awardees.
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