ESCONDIDO, CA (June 2, 2025) – The California Center for the Arts, Escondido (CCAEF) proudly announces the inaugural North County Arts Awards, a prestigious new event celebrating the remarkable talent and creativity found throughout North County San Diego. This exciting initiative honors individuals across 18 categories spanning visual, culinary, and performing arts, culminating in a formal black-tie awards dinner on June 28, 2025, at the CCAE Conference Center.
Nominations for the awards are now officially closed, with an overwhelming response from the community—over 767 separate nominations were submitted, making this an incredibly competitive process.
“We are thrilled by the outpouring of enthusiasm and support from the community. The sheer number of nominations we received underscores the depth and breadth of talent in North County,” said Gina Lopez, CEO of CCAEF.
In addition to the 18 category awards, the CCAEF is honored to announce that Mr. Bob Will will receive the 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his extraordinary contribution for arts, culture and education North County and beyond.
“Bob Will has had an enormous and lasting impact on the children of Escondido through his generous support of the Allegro Strings program,” said Leila Sackfield, former Deputy Superintendent of the Escondido Union School District and current Chair of the California Center for the Arts Foundation. “Because of his dedication to ensuring equitable access to the arts, hundreds of children have experienced the joy of creating music, the value of perseverance, and the satisfaction that comes from working together to create something beautiful. Without Bob’s generosity , most of these students would never have been able to access an instrument or receive the twice-weekly instruction that has helped them grow not just as musicians, but as individuals. I’ll never forget the smile on Bob’s face as tear-filled parents and flower-bearing children approached him with heartfelt thanks after the end-of-year concerts. That moment captured exactly what his generosity has made possible. This is just one of the many reasons Bob Will is so deserving of this Lifetime Achievement Award.”
The finalists for each category will be announced on June 6, 2025, and tickets for the red-carpet awards event on June 28 where the winners will be announced are now on sale. Seats are limited and can be purchased at artcenter.org.
Join us as we come together to celebrate North County’s vibrant creative community and honor the artists and visionaries who make our region truly shine.
For more information and to purchase tickets, visit: artcenter.org.
About the California Center for the Arts, Escondido:
The CCAE is North County’s premier cultural center, offering year-round programming in music, theater, visual arts, and education, fostering artistic talent and enriching the lives of over 10.5 million people since 1994. CCAEF extends over $1.2 million to local non-profit organizations in way of discounts and direct subsidization; because of this support from the CCAEF, numerous non-profit organizations call the CCAE their home.
