The inaugural Creative Awards honors creative talents in Fort Wayne

Last Friday, creatives from across Fort Wayne gathered at the Local Archive to celebrate and connect at the inaugural Creative Awards. 

Together, Amber Reid, Mariah James, Chelby Husidic, and Amanda Miller conceptualized and organized the event to recognize the talent and achievements across all types of creativity in Fort Wayne, especially those that typically go unnoticed. Reid, who co-owns the Local Archive with James, says this event also helps honor the desire they had to connect early on in their careers.

Last week, Reid told 21Alive the event’s goal was to recognize the creative talents of Fort Wayne.

“The artists, the people who are the fabric of our city,” she said, “…So I’m talking about the people who are not just our muralist, not just our authors, but the people who are out there creating stuff that we are able to see every day, whether it be textiles or the farmers market – those creatives.”

At the event, guests were greeted with a red carpet and paparazzi-style photo opportunities. Before the ceremony started, the guests were able to mingle with one another and listen to a live performance. Michele Crider, who is known online as Local Lezbian and has a following of 1.7 million on TikTok, served as the event’s host.

The ceremony presented ten awards to recognize a variety of creative individuals and was intentionally chosen to represent as wide a variety of art as possible.

Those categories included:

• Performing Arts
• Event and Experience Design
• Mixed Medium
• Photo & Video Production
• Culinary Arts
• Literary/Graphic Design/Media 
• Fashion and Costume
• Emerging Artist 
• People Choice
• Mayor’s Choice

Artists could be nominated by themselves or someone else. The event hosts then selected the top nominees for each category. A panel of local creatives that included Cathy Brand Beere, president of DeBrand Fine Chocolates; Tamara Cummins, events and programs manager for Downtown Fort Wayne; and Nathan Newport, owner of The Fairfield, ranked the top nominees, and their scores were used to select winners. 

Brandy Lane, a publisher, poet, and writer who was nominated in the Literacy/Graphic Design/Media category, says she appreciates her art form being recognized.

“It’s nice to be recognized because writing books is such a quiet thing; a lot of people don’t notice what you do unless they open the book,” she said. 

Mayor Sharon Tucker was among the many guests in attendance. She presented a proclamation honoring the Creative Awards and says she hopes to be able to do it again next year.

“It tells me that our city has a thriving and creative community,” Mayor Tucker said when asked about the awards. “They’re supportive of each other.”

She also gave out her own award, The Mayor’s Choice, which went to Martin Vazquez, who originally was nominated for Events and Experience Design.

“I honestly wasn’t expecting to win anything at all,” Vazquez, a local painter, writer, and event coordinator, explained. “I was out here to support all my local creatives. It makes me realize that there are so many people watching me.”

LaQuin Norwood, otherwise known as 2RQ, a local hip-hop artist and content creator, was awarded the Performing Arts Award, the first award of the night.

“It’s special because…I’m the first one to receive the award, and I’m still in shock and awe,” Norwood said.

As Reid and James won their award in the Events and Experience Design category, Reid noted the hard work creatives put in, reiterating the inspiration behind the Creative Awards.

“To see each other, and recognize each other as professionals… we put a lot of blood, sweat, and tears into what we do, and a lot of times it feels it doesn’t go noticed, so thank you for noticing me,” she said.

Evan Harris, a local photographer, heard about the event through social media. He’s been a photographer for the past eight years and decided to do photography full-time two years ago. In his experience, he says he often discovers other local creatives online. 

“I thought it was a fun way to put local creators together and connect under one roof, finally,” he added.

Another photographer, Corbin Veltum of Veltum Productions, was nominated for Photo & Video Production. He says he was thrilled to have been one of the final nominees, but also excited to connect with others.

“I think just engaging with other creatives can help us learn and improve and grow, and see how other people handle their craft,” Veltum said. 

The opportunity to connect and recognize the craft of others was a shared sentiment for many attendees. Veltum adds that these sorts of events serve as a good reminder that in creative sectors, community should come before competition.

“I learned pretty early on in my career not to view it as a competition, but a community,” he said.

During her closing speech, Crider, who hosted the event, emphasized how impactful creatives with large followings or access to resources are in Fort Wayne.

“In this room right now are the real movers and shakers within our city. These are the creative people who bring people to our city,” she said.

The complete list of winners:

• Performing Arts
  • Winner: LaQuin Norwood
• Event and Experience Design
  • Winner: Amber Reid and Mariah James
• Mixed Medium
  • Winner: Caleb Pederson
• Photo & Video Production
  • Winner: Adrien Gentie
• Culinary Arts
  • Winner: Sean Richardson
• Literary/Graphic Design/Media 
  • Winner: Natalie Barney
• Fashion and Costume
  • Winner: Haley Evans
• Emerging Artist 
  • Winner: Adrianna Musi
• People Choice 
  • Winner: Dorothy Adjei
• Mayor’s Choice
  • Winner: Martin Vazquez