One Columbia for Arts and Culture reopens nominations for prestigious Stephen G. Morrison Visionary Award
January 29, 2026
Stephen G. Morrison Visionary Award Returns to Celebrate Columbia’s Cultural Leaders
One Columbia for Arts and Culture announced the highly anticipated return of the Stephen G. Morrison Visionary Award. After a brief hiatus, this prestigious honor is back to spotlight an individual whose passion, vision, and leadership have fundamentally shaped the arts, history, and cultural fabric of the City of Columbia.
The community is invited to witness this celebration of excellence at a special award ceremony. The event will take place at the Koger Center for the Arts on March 20, 2026, from 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM. Guests will enjoy an evening dedicated to our city’s creative spirit, complete with refreshments.
Nominations are officially open for this distinguished award, which recognizes those who embody the generous spirit and dedication to civic vitality championed by Stephen G. Morrison, an early leader of One Columbia. The ideal recipient is someone who combines profound vision with actionable leadership to foster creative social change and leave a lasting mark on our society.
One Columbia calls upon the community to identify these champions of culture. To nominate a visionary, submissions must include a formal nomination letter detailing specific examples of the nominee’s impact and leadership capabilities. All nomination materials must be submitted via email to [email protected] by the deadline of February 28, 2026.
This award has a rich history of honoring transformative figures in our region. It has not been presented since 2021, when it was bestowed upon Morihiko Nakahara, the esteemed Music Director and Conductor of the South Carolina Philharmonic. The roster of past recipients reads as a testament to Columbia’s vibrant cultural evolution, including William Starrett (2015), Terrance Henderson (2016), Bobby Donaldson (2017), Melanie Huggins (2018), and Robin Waites (2019).
Reviving the Stephen G. Morrison Visionary Award signals a renewed commitment to celebrating the inspired individuals who make Columbia a dynamic place to live and create. We look forward to honoring the next visionary who will carry this legacy forward.
Visit our website to learn more about this award.
About One Columbia for Arts and Culture
One Columbia for Arts and Culture is a non-profit organization that works to promote collaboration among citizens, the cultural community, and city government through advocacy, marketing, and programming. Its mission is to support and advance arts and culture to help make Columbia a vibrant and culturally rich city.
