By Sara Atencio-Gonzales, The Paper — The City of Albuquerque is once again recognizing the artists and organizations shaping the city’s cultural landscape through the annual Creative Bravos Awards.
Hosted by the Department of Arts and Culture, the awards honor individuals, organizations and businesses whose work has made a meaningful impact on Albuquerque’s communities. First established in 1985 and revived by the city in 2018, the Creative Bravos Awards celebrate a wide range of contributions across the arts, from performance and education to cultural preservation and community engagement.
This year’s recipients include FUSION Theatre and Dennis Gromelski, Bookworks, Yjastros: The American Flamenco Repertory Company, Albuquerque Concert Band, the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center, AMP Concerts, Cardboard Playhouse Theatre Company and The Box Performance Space, and dance educator Rosalinda Rojas.
For Doug Montoya, founder of Cardboard Playhouse Theatre Company, the recognition was both surprising and affirming.
“I would say that, you know, it’s one of those feelings where you’re like, Wait, really?” says Montoya. “We were very honored. We were so excited when we got the news.”
Founded in 2004, Cardboard Playhouse has spent more than two decades creating opportunities for young performers, focusing on accessibility and community-driven theater. Montoya explains that the award validates that long-standing work.
“I would say that it is validating,” says Montoya. “Our goal is just to create a place for kids to feel safe expressing themselves and building their confidence.”
That mission has guided the organization for more than 20 years, and Montoya says recognition from the community reinforces its importance. “It kind of makes our work a little easier. Like, wow, these other people agree that what we’re doing is important.”
Montoya also points to the sense of community among this year’s recipients as a highlight of the ceremony.
“I think the thing that was most meaningful was being surrounded by organizations that we admire,” says Montoya. “We were really honored to be amongst that group.”
FUSION Theatre, a nationally recognized company known for socially engaged storytelling, was also honored this year. For co-founder Dennis Gromelski, the recognition reflects a deep connection to the community the organization serves.
“There is no greater organizational gift than to be recognized by a community we deeply love,” says Gromelski. “Home is where the art is.”
Gromelski emphasizes that the award is not only a reflection on past work, but also a signal of what lies ahead.
“Celebrating legacy is not a finality to a voyage, but rather, a foretelling of what is possible in the future,” says Gromelski. “We are prepared to embrace and engage with future opportunities and challenges.”
Gromelski also highlights the shared dedication among this year’s honorees. “It was striking that all of this year’s awardees have been serving the community for decades,” says Gromelski. “They talked about their deep love of the city and serving the community through the arts.”
That spirit of collaboration and connection, Gromelski says, continues to define Albuquerque’s arts scene. “With each passing year, our arts community realizes more fully that we are all in this together,” says Gromelski. “Collaboration has become a more common reality.”
As the Creative Bravos Awards continue to evolve, they remain focused on recognizing the people and organizations that help shape Albuquerque’s creative identity. This year’s honorees reflect the depth, diversity and lasting impact of the city’s arts community.