Nominating Panel & Committee for ARTS Awards Announced

Dallas Market Center (DMC) and ART, the creative home furnishings network, have listed the names of the ARTS Awards committee and nominating panel – which includes Lighting News Now – for the upcoming 36th ARTS Awards. The event will take place on Friday, January 9, 2026, at the Hilton Anatole in Dallas.

The ARTS Awards committee consists of three industry professionals charged with overseeing the nomination and selection of the ARTS Awards, including the categories of Academy of Achievement and HEARTS Award. They also serve on the nominating panel. The members of the committee are:

• Teddie Garrigan, Co-Founder, Coco & Dash

• Cindy Rogers, President, CSR Associates

• Bob Ulrich, VP of Sales & Marketing, Currey & Company

The ARTS Awards nominating panel is made up of independent industry professionals who will review the hundreds of nominees. Their evaluations will determine the list of ARTS Awards finalists, who will subsequently submit their materials for judging in the fall.

The members of the nominating panel are:

• Saana Baker, editor-in-chief, The Textile Eye

• Dorothy Belshaw, independent consultant

• Beth Bender, principal & co-founder, Dove Agency

• Cherry Bernish, Dallas Metro Sales representative, In-Detail

• Laurie Burns, executive director, The Gift and Home Trade Association

• Jenny Cano, director, Interior Design Society

• Patti Carpenter, principal, Carpenter + Company

• Asha Chaudhary, president & CEO, Jaipur Living

• Todd Director, president, Connecticut Lighting Centers/Restoration Lighting Gallery

• Caroline Hipple, HB2

• Ruth Ann Janson, president of financial & marketing services, Dove Agency

• Russ Jones, design & hospitality sales representative, Ivystone

• Leslie Killingsworth, senior vp/marketing & merchandise, Progressive Lighting/Lee Lighting/Savoy House

• Connie Lineberry, president, Connie Lineberry & Associates

• Linda Longo, editor-in-chief, Lighting News Now

• Monica Loving, vp/vendor development, Ivystone

• Jaye Anna Mize, vp advisory + partnerships, Future Snoops

• Warren Shoulberg, home furnishings journalist

• Cheminne Taylor Smith, CEO, Cheminne.com

• Mary Beth Zaehringer, founder, MBR Public Relations

The ARTS Awards process starts with industry professionals, companies, and individuals submitting nominations online across various categories. An independent panel of experts reviews these nominations and selects a shortlist of finalists. Finalists then submit materials for evaluation by a separate judging panel. Winners will be announced at the ARTS Awards ceremony on January 9, where they are celebrated for their excellence. Neither membership in ART nor representation at Dallas Market Center is necessary to nominate or to be a finalist.

To learn more about ARTS Awards, click here

Gold media and organization sponsors for the ARTS Awards are: Designers Today, Furniture Today, Gifts & Decorative Accessories, Home Accents Today, and Home Textiles Today. Silver media and organization sponsors for the ARTS Awards are: Lighting News Now and Decor News Now. Bronze media and organization sponsors for the ARTS Awards are: Modern Luxury – Texas Interiors, PaperCity, Luxe Business of Home, Interior Design Society, Aspire Design and Home, and Sustainable Furnishings Council.

For upcoming markets, visit the DMC website and download the mobile app. Also, keep up-to-date on all information by visiting DMC on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, the DMC Daily Dose, and use #ARTSAwards to stay connected.

For more information visit the ARTS Awards website. use #ARTSAwards to stay connected.