About the Awards
Presented by Nevada Arts Council
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The Reno Tahoe Artists (RTA) Awards is an annual awards program and Gala created to recognize individual achievement and the overall ascendency of Reno Tahoe into a national destination for arts and culture.
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A 501(c)(3) non-profit, the RTA Awards represents two segments: Regional Awards and Best of Show. The Regional Awards present cash prizes and special edition awards for excellence in artistic achievement in 6 categories to artists living and working in the Reno Tahoe region. Winners are selected by an appointed panel of jurors looking to recognize key contributors to the development of Reno Tahoe's arts and culture landscape. The Grand Prize is selected from the category finalists.
Regional Awards
Winners selected by appointed panel of judges
Award Categories
Regional Award categories include: Furniture, Lighting and Functional Art, Mixed Media: 2D, Mixed Media: 3D, Watercolor, Oil & Acrylic, and Photography
Finalists & Winners
Winners of each category of the Regional Awards receive:
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$1200 cash prize
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Special edition award created by local artist Ted Demolski
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Winners of the grand prize, the Reno Creative Movement Award, receives:
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$5,000 cash prize
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Special edition award created by local artist Ted Demolski
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Full page ad in American Art Collector magazine
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Full page ad in City Lifestyle Reno magazine
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Best of Show Awards
Running in correspondence with the Reno Tahoe International Art Show, the RTA Best of Show voter-based awards celebrate best booth presentation within each presenting category of the RTIA Show. Attendees and exhibitors are asked to vote for one winner per category on-site at the RTIA Show between the VIP Preview Thursday, September 12 and 6pm on Saturday, September 14 ahead of the Awards Gala taking place Sunday morning on the 15th. The Grand Prize is awarded to the RTIA Show exhibitor with the most overall votes.
Award Categories
Best of Show categories include: Independents, Heart of Reno, Art Cities, Galleries & Features, Sculpture: Small-Scale, Sculpture: Large-Scale, First Nations Indigenous Peoples, and Student Art.
Finalists & Winners
Winners of each category of the Best of Show awards receive:
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$1500 credit for RTIA Show 2025
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Special edition award created by local artist Ted Demolski
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Winners of the Grand Prize Best of Show receives:
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$5,000 credit for RTIA Show 2025
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Special edition award created by local artist Ted Demolski
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Full page ad in American Art Collector magazine
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Artwork featured on the 2025 exhibitor badges
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Thank You to Our Regional & Best of Show Sponsors
Regional Sponsors
Alan Maiss
Oil & Acrylic
Nevada Fine Arts
Watercolor
Pitch Black Printing
Photography
St. Mary's Art Center
Mixed Media: 2D
EDAWN
Mixed Media: 3D; Furniture, Lighting & Functional Art
Strengthen Our Community (SoC)
Reno Creative Movement Award
Best of Show Sponsors
Presented by PBS Reno
Overall Best of Show Sponsor
Nevada Arts Council
1. Galleries & Features; 2. First Nations, Indigenous Peoples; 3. Best of Show Grand Prize - 5K
Pitch Black Printing
Heart of Reno
Marja Marting
Independents
Joe Ness
Art Cities
Steve Shell
Sculpture: Small-Scale
Reno Tahoe Airport Authority
Sculpture: Large-Scale
Deane Albright
Student Art
Key Dates
May 10 - July 31, 2024 - Regional Award Applications are Open
September 2, 2024 - Regional Finalists are Announced
September 12 - 14, 2024 Best of Show Voting is Open to RTIA Show exhibitors and attendees
September 15, 2024 - RTA Awards Brunch Gala, Winners of Regional and Best of Show awards are announced
Meet the 2024 Jury
2023 Winners
Meet the Regional & Best in Show Winners and runner-ups from 2023.
Sept 14-17, 2024
Reno-Sparks Convention Center
The Reno Tahoe International Art (RTIA) Show is the destination art fair of the west. Set against the backdrop of the Sierra, the four-day annual event is the fastest growing art fair in the United States, set to occupy over 160,000 sq ft for its third edition this September 12 - 15, 2024. The RTIA Show is uniquely structured with exhibiting national and international galleries, independent artists, short film programming from around the world, and one of the nation's largest presentations of sculpture, including the Post Playa Art feature showcasing art made for Burning Man. The fair is intrinsically tied to its location, anchoring the Reno Creative Movement and featuring the 'Heart of Reno' showcase, locally created bespoke furniture, musical talent from the region, and ongoing local hospitality.