In partnership with the Dallas Market Center, the Accessories Resource Team sponsors the annual ARTS Awards program.

Manufacturers, sales reps & industry professionals nominate retailers.   Retailers, sales reps & industry professionals nominate manufacturers.   Winner of the drawing for 2 free tickets to the 21st ARTS Awards Gala from nominations received during ART Conference 2009   David Gebhart, Global Views   20th ARTS Awards Winners See Pictures from the 20th Gala    Congratulations! The 20th ARTS Awards Academy of Achievement Honoree  Murray Feiss.   Congratulations to the new Hall of Fame Inductees BJ's Home Accents (retailer) Feizy Rugs (manufacturer)     19th ARTS Awards Gala     Last year's event 19th ARTS Awards Winners Press Release

Now in its 21st year, this one-of-a-kind annual recognition program honors outstanding achievement in retailing, manufacturing, sales representation and product design. The annual Academy of Achievement Award is presented to the man or woman who has made important contributions to the decorative accessories industry. The Rising Stars award is for retailers and manufacturers who have been in business three years or less.

The 20th Annual ARTS Awards Judging took place in mid-November 08 at the Dallas Market Center. Exclusive behind-the-scenes photos above show you what takes place on this long but exciting day. Click on thumbnails for a bigger view.

[From left-right]
1. 20th ARTS Awards Judges: from left – Rawlins Gilliland, consultant; Helen Erdman, Helen Erdman Interios; Mark McMenamin, Interior Design Magazine;   Janace Clarke, Texas Christian University.   The judges put in 2 full days of work examining product and company binders to choose the winners. They score each binder individually. The ballots are sealed and delivered to a tabulator after the judging is complete.

2. Each manufacturer nominated is required to submit product and a company binder for judging. Great care is taken to display the product for the judges to see how it displayed in the manufacturer’s showroom.

3. All fixtures are assembled, hung and lit to give the judges a complete understanding of how the fixture would look in a buyers home. All products submitted are displayed to advantage.

4. Every effort is made to display & merchandise the product submitted to resemble the finalists showroom efforts. Binders only are required of Retail, Product Designer and Sales Representative finalists. Each binder is expected to be complete with information about their business including marketing, merchandising, professional information and community service examples.

The ARTS Awards Process - link to the Dallas Market Center site