Canal Convergence Wins Top International Events Award

Scottsdale Arts took home 12 awards Sept. 25, from the International Festivals & Events Association, including the top honor for Canal Convergence | Water + Art + Light. The Pinnacle Awards recognize the best festivals and events from around the world.

Canal Convergence won the Gold Grand Pinnacle Award in its budget category and three other honors. Scottsdale Arts Festival also won eight different awards, including four Gold recognitions.

“I am extremely proud of the amazing team that has created two, large-scale, world-class events in the heart of our beautiful city,” says Dr. Gerd Wuestemann, president and CEO of Scottsdale Arts. “In the short time I have served as CEO, I have seen this unique arts umbrella grow together. When all of Scottsdale Arts works together, we are much more than the sum of our parts. Being recognized by our global peers is fabulous, and seeing our community come together around these great arts events is deeply rewarding.”

The awards were announced during the 64th Annual IFEA Convention, Expo & Retreat in Williamsburg, Virginia. The professional competition draws entries from some of the world’s top festivals and events, with those responsible for those events voting for their peers. Winning entries came from such diverse events organizations as the National Cherry Blossom Festival, the Kentucky Derby Festival and the Pasadena Tournament of Roses. International winners included events in Australia, Ireland, South Korea and United Arab Emirates.

The other awards received by Scottsdale Arts honor the many elements that go into presenting major events like Canal Convergence and Scottsdale Arts Festival each year. For example, the Gold Sponsor Partner Award for the Festival’s partnership with Scottsdale Water highlights the special relationship between Scottsdale Arts and the City of Scottsdale.

The two organizations will partner again this November at Canal Convergence, which will also host the One Water Brewing Showcase—the world’s first beer festival featuring only craft beers brewed with recycled water from the City’s Advanced Water Treatment Plant.

“The arts have always been at the core of what makes Scottsdale such a special place to live,” says Scottsdale Mayor Jim Lane. “Canal Convergence is an event that celebrates our public art investment and brings over 250,000 of our citizens together. We are proud of our partnership with Scottsdale Arts and honored that this hallmark event has received this international recognition.”

In 2018, Canal Convergence moved to a new November timeslot. It will return Nov. 8–17, 2019.

Canal Convergence PHOTO BY REG MADISON PHOTOGRAPHY

Kim Boganey, director of Scottsdale Public Art, the branch of Scottsdale Arts that created Canal Convergence, said the event would not be possible without the support of partners like the City of Scottsdale, the Tourism Development Commission, Experience Scottsdale, Salt River Project and Billie Jo and Judd Herberger.

“What began as a means for public art to transform place has turned into a recognized destination event for Scottsdale that touches on all aspects of the arts, sustainability and ways to learn more about the world we live in,” says Boganey. “I am humbled and honored that IFEA has recognized what Canal Convergence has become.”

Art lovers, philanthropists and longtime supporters of Scottsdale Arts, the Herbergers are also Scottsdale Waterfront residents who have watched Canal Convergence steadily grow.

“The arts are our lifetime passion and the reason we call Scottsdale home,” says Billie Jo Herberger. “Watching the entire community come together around Canal Convergence is the reason we live on the Waterfront. Congrats to the entire Scottsdale Arts team for making it a global destination.”

The Scottsdale Arts Festival will celebrate its 50th anniversary on March 13–15, 2020, at Scottsdale Civic Center Park, where guests enjoy the best in visual, culinary, cultural and performing arts, including 170 jury-selected artists from throughout the United States and abroad.

Awards are given in four budget categories. Canal Convergence competed in the second-highest budget category against events like the Des Moines Arts Festival and Denver’s Cherry Creek Arts Festival, while Scottsdale Arts Festival competed in the third-highest division.

Scottsdale Arts Festival won awards in the following categories:

Gold: Best Newspaper Insert/Supplement
Gold: Best Promotional Poster
Gold: Best T-Shirt Design
Gold: Best Sponsor Partner
Silver: Best Miscellaneous Multimedia
Silver: Best Food & Beverage Program
Bronze: Best New Merchandise
Bronze: Best Children’s Programming

Canal Convergence won awards in the following categories:

Gold: Grand Pinnacle Award
Gold: Best Event Program
Silver: Best Company Image Pieces
Silver: Best Other Merchandise


Canal Convergence | Water + Art + Light

The Story of Water

Nov. 8–17, 2019

Scottsdale Waterfront

For more information, visit canalconvergence.com.

About Perrine Adams

Perrine Adams is the Managing Editor of The Red Book and Lifestyle Editor for Frontdoors Magazine.

From Frontdoors Magazine

Back to Top