The Arts & Business Council of Greater Phoenix (A&BC) has named the Mesa Arts Center (MAC) as its "Arts Organization of the Year" for 2010. The result, announced Wednesday during an awards ceremony at the Sheraton Phoenix Downtown Hotel, was decided by a panel of 42 independent judges from across Maricopa County.
According to Steve Carr of The Kur Carr Group, Inc, the nominee list included 14 other Arizona-based arts organizations, including Arizona Theatre Company, Children's Museum of Phoenix, Herberger Theatre Center, and Rosie's House.
A&BC states that the Mesa Arts Center displayed excellence when it "launched four major initiatives to expand the reach of arts and culture in its community." These included the ongoing art-centric MACFEST event and the Mesa Bucks program, which gives shoppers discounted admission to Mesa-area arts and cultural events.
The 210,000-square foot MAC, opened since 2005, offers a year round schedule of art exhibits, concerts, and theater events.