Illuminator Award Honorees 2026
Five Forces Shaping Baltimore’s Cultural Future
The Peale is proud to announce the five honorees of the 2026 Illuminator Awards, individuals and institutions whose work has expanded access, strengthened communities, and shaped Baltimore’s cultural life in lasting ways.
Together, this inaugural group reflects the spirit of the Illuminator Awards — recognizing leadership that bridges history and innovation, creativity and civic responsibility, legacy and future impact.
A Collective Commitment to Baltimore
The 2026 honorees span philanthropy, community building, journalism, preservation, and museum leadership. What unites them is not a single discipline, but a shared belief that culture matters — and that sustained investment in people, place, and ideas is essential to Baltimore’s future.
The 2026 Honorees
- Afro House
Recognized for creating vital platforms that elevate Black artists, foster creative exchange, and cultivate spaces rooted in cultural expression and community care. - Johns Hopkins (Baltimore Heritage)
Recognized for championing historic preservation as a living, inclusive practice — connecting Baltimore’s built environment to contemporary civic life and public memory. - BmoreArt (Cara Ober)
Honored for independent arts journalism that has documented, challenged, and amplified Baltimore’s creative ecosystem for over a decade, shaping public understanding of local culture. - Doreen Bolger
Honored for visionary museum leadership and a career dedicated to scholarship, public access, and the stewardship of Baltimore’s artistic and cultural legacy. PNC Financial Services Group, Inc.
Honored for its long-standing commitment to arts access, early learning, and community-based cultural investment that strengthens neighborhoods and institutions across the region.
Why the Illuminator Awards Matter
The Illuminator Awards were created to shine a light on those who often work behind the scenes to sustain Baltimore’s cultural fabric — and to invite them into a deeper, shared relationship with The Peale and its mission as Baltimore’s Community Museum.
Each honoree will be celebrated through a short biographical film, public recognition, and participation in a broader civic moment that looks not only at past accomplishments, but at what comes next.
Looking Ahead to April 16, 2026
The Illuminator Awards Gala, taking place on April 16, 2026, will bring together artists, civic leaders, philanthropists, and community members to honor this remarkable group and to support The Peale’s work in storytelling, apprenticeship, digital innovation, and community-driven programming.
This inaugural class sets the tone for the Illuminator Awards in years to come — bold, inclusive, and rooted in Baltimore.
Tickets and sponsorship opportunities are now available.
Join us in celebrating the people and institutions illuminating Baltimore’s future.
