Presenters Announced for 31st Annual ARTS Awards

DALLAS / CHARLOTTE  – December 10, 2019 – Dallas Market Center and ART, the creative home furnishings network, announce the guest presenters for the 31st annual ARTS Awards taking place on Friday, January 10, 2020. The ARTS Awards, hosted annually in January during the Dallas Total Home & Gift Market, acknowledges preeminent manufacturers, retailers, interior designers, products designers and sales representatives.

Following the judging process by a panel of independent industry experts, category winners will be announced for the first time at the gala event. In addition to category winners, the Academy of Achievement honor will be awarded to Michael Amini, founder, chairman, and CEO of AICO/Amini Innovation Corporation.

The distinguished group of presenters joins design experts and lifestyle tastemakers Carson Kressley and Thom Filicia who are co-hosting the event and presenting multiple categories.

  • Jane Seymour, award-winning actress, artist, author and furniture designer
  • Lois Del Negro, CFO of Global Views and president of ART
  • Patti Carpenter, principal of carpenter + company, global trend ambassador, designer and artist
  • Christopher Grubb, president of Arch-Interiors Design Group, interior and product designer
  • Susan Inglis, executive director of the Sustainable Furnishings Council
  • Eric Jacobson, president and CEO of the American Lighting Association
  • Monica Loving, vice president, Ivystone

Reservations for the ARTS Awards are available online: http://dallasmarketcenter.com/ArtsAwards/reservations/. Tickets are $145 for ART members and $170 for non-members.

Carson Kressley and Thom Filicia to Host 31st Annual ARTS Awards

DALLAS / CHARLOTTE  – Dallas Market Center and ART, the creative home furnishings network, announce that design experts and lifestyle tastemakers Carson Kressley and Thom Filicia will serve as hosts for the 31st annual ARTS Awards.

The ARTS Awards, presented each January during the Dallas Total Home & Gift Market, is the premier awards program in the U.S. honoring top manufacturers, retailers, designers, and sales representatives in the home industry. The 31st annual ARTS Awards winners will be revealed during a gala event at the Hilton Anatole Hotel on Friday, January 10, 2020. In addition to category winners the Academy of Achievement honor will be awarded to Michael Amini, founder, chairman, and CEO of Amini Innovation Corporation (AICO).

Carson Kressley is an Emmy-Award winning TV personality, fashion designer, style expert and New York Times best-selling author of four books. Kressley became a breakout star on Bravo’s 2003 Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, which won a primetime Emmy, and has appeared and hosted various TV shows since. He can be seen as a judge on the Emmy-Award winning show RuPaul’s Drag Race, and his newest endeavor is a design show on Bravo, with ARTS Awards co-host Thom Filicia, called Get A Room with Carson & Thom.  Kressley is also a strong supporter of many philanthropic causes including The Trevor Project, The Human Rights Campaign and Al D. Rodriguez Liver Foundation.

Thom Filicia Inc. has emerged as one of today’s most influential and respected interior and product designers. His projects range from residential, hospitality and commercial interiors all over the world. Gaining fame on the Emmy-winning “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy”, Style Network, HGTV, and most recently Bravo’s Get A Room with Carson & Thom, he is a best-selling author and has been praised as a top designer and international tastemaker. He is also the driving force behind the Thom Filicia Home Collection, which includes furniture, artwork, bedding, textiles, wallcovering and more, and has a flagship showroom, called Sedgwick & Brattle, at The New York Design Center.  For more information, visit www.thomfilicia.com and sedgwickandbrattle.com

Reservations for the ARTS Awards are available online: http://dallasmarketcenter.com/ArtsAwards/reservations/. Tickets are $145 for ART members and $170 for non-members.

For more information visit the ARTS Awards website and use #ARTSAwards to stay connected.

2020 ART Conference Location Announced

October 14 2019 – Charlotte, NC – ART, the creative home furnishings network will hold their annual conference on April 2 – 5, 2020 at the Marriott Sanibel Harbour Resort & Spa.

The 2020 program will feature programming that includes seminars, hands on workshops, social events and along side ART programs, on Saturday, April 4, ART Conference will host a one-day pop-up interior design focused program, Accent on Design with Home Accents Today and Designers Today.   Steelyard will be involved in the conference planning process as a joint collaborator. ART also plans a community service project in the Fort Myers area during the conference.

“We’re excited for the opportunity to collaborate with this year’s team of partners. Including the retail and interior design prospective is so vital to understanding and building productive relationships among our members and the industry”, said Sharon Davis of ART.

From our 2020 ART Conference Co-Chairs:

“Conference is one of the most exciting events of the year! We can discuss and collaborate with our peers outside of a typical market. Having this time to learn from each other is invaluable to our business. I always leave conference feeling excited and empowered – We are all about learning, service, and having some fun along the way”, said Molly Mays of Rizzy Home and ART Conference 2020 Co-Chair.

“Going to ART Conference is my favorite work trip of the year! There’s nothing like being able to cross product category lines and really dig into the weeds about issues that plague our industry. We all have the same roadblocks, and brainstorming solutions so we can all move forward together is imperative and inspiring! The connections made at Conference and the conversations that take place every year help me grow our business creatively and efficiently. I can’t wait for everyone to see what we are planning for this year’s Conference”, said Santhi Yarlagadda, KAS Rugs and ART Conference 2020 Co-Chair.

Program sponsorships are open for reservations now. The full program and registration for attendance details will be available in January 2020.

For more information on ART membership and other ART programming, please visit www.accessoriesresourceteam.org or call 704-904-7854.

 

Michael Amini Named as 31st ARTS Awards Academy of Achievement Honoree

DALLAS / CHARLOTTE – October 9, 2019 – Michael Amini, the charismatic founder, chairman, and CEO of Amini Innovation Corporation (AICO), will receive the Academy of Achievement honor at the 31st annual ARTS Awards, taking place at the Hilton Anatole Hotel in Dallas on Friday, January 10, 2020.

The ARTS Awards, presented annually during the Dallas Total Home & Gift Market, acknowledges preeminent manufacturers, retailers, interior designers, product designers, and sales representatives. The Academy of Achievement, the industry’s highest accolade, recognizes extraordinary contributions to the industry.

“Michael’s legendary energy and leadership are matched, if not surpassed, by his generosity,” said Cindy Morris, president and CEO of Dallas Market Center. “He has built a well-respected company, designed award-winning products, partnered with celebrities, and mentored countless leaders, but most importantly he has selflessly helped others via the City of Hope and numerous industry programs. Michael is an extremely deserving honoree.”

“It’s a distinct privilege to honor someone who has gained the respect from a business community as well as recognition as a significant humanitarian,” said Sharon Davis, executive director of ART. “Michael’s passion for the industry has been clearly seen in his drive to help transform the American Home Furnishings Hall of Fame into a prestigious industry organization driven to honor our industry’s past and celebrate its future. He is a true ambassador for the best virtues of our business.”

Designer, philanthropist, investor, world traveler and creator Michael Amini is the Founder, Chairman and CEO of Amini Innovation Corporation (AICO), one of the world’s most diverse home furniture companies, which he founded in 1988. Today, the company boasts a 320,000 square foot state-of-the-art facility in Pico Rivera, California, with 86 shipping and receiving docks and hundreds of employees. In May of 2019, Amini broke ground on a nearly 500,000 square foot logistics center in Vietnam, which will also serve as warehouse and manufacturing facility.

AICO’s product lines now include complete bedroom and dining collections, high-fashion upholstery, a stunning line of top-of-bed fashions, lighting, artwork and rugs. Amini collaborated with actress Jane Seymour in 2010 and mogul Kathy Ireland in 2017, expanding his brand into both glam and casual home furnishings as well. In 2018, the newest series Michael Amini Jane Seymour LIVING was introduced adding sophistication and elegance to the already successful stable of brands.

Amini has served as president and chair of the American Home Furnishings Hall of Fame. He has been recognized as Supplier of the Year by Furniture/Today as well as several Top 100 retailers, and he was awarded the “Pillar of the Industry” honor in 2007 by the International Home Furnishings Representatives Association. In 2008, he received the American Heritage Award from the Anti-Defamation League for a lifetime of achievement in promoting civil/human relations.

In 2004, Amini was awarded with the Lifetime Achievement Award by City of Hope, the cancer research and treatment center. In 2009, utilizing Amini’s generous gift, City of Hope opened the doors of the Michael Amini Transfusion Medicine Center, which centralized blood collections and processing and benefits patients, donors, and research programs. In recognition of his continuing leadership, Amini was awarded an honorary doctorate degree at City of Hope’s June 2014 commencement ceremony of the Irell & Manella Graduate School of Biological Sciences.

The Academy of Achievement honoree is selected each year by the ARTS Awards Committee in order to recognize significant contributions to the industry. The committee serves one year and their duties include a review of the process and selecting the Academy of Achievement honoree. The 31st ARTS Awards committee members are: David Beld, Palecek; Martha Graham, Martha Graham & Associates; Ron Werner, HW Home; Cindy Morris, Dallas Market Center and Sharon Davis, ART.

Reservations are available now via the ARTS Awards website. Tickets are $145 for ART members and $170 for non-members. Tables are also available.

Sponsors for the 31st annual ARTS Awards include Aspire Design and Home; Designers Today; D Home; enLIGHTenment; Furniture, Lighting and Décor; Furniture Today; Gifts & Decorative Accessories; Home Accents Today; Home Furnishings Business; Home Furnishings News; Home Textiles Today; the Interior Design Society and the Sustainable Furnishings Council.

For more information, visit the ARTS Awards official website.

31st ARTS Awards Judges Announced

DALLAS / CHARLOTTE  – Sept. 11, 2019 – Dallas Market Center and ART, the creative home furnishings network, have announced the judges for the 31st Annual ARTS Awards taking place on Friday, January 10, 2020. The esteemed judging panel will select winners from digital submissions that vary based upon category and may consist of product development, marketing, merchandising, company differentiation examples, or professional information.

In November, the judges will convene in Dallas for two days to review each individual or company submission. Once all components of judging are complete, a designated accounting firm tabulates and secures the scores until the winners are announced for the first time at the ARTS Awards gala.

The 31st Annual ARTS Awards Judges are:

Adam Glassman – O, The Oprah Magazine
Adam Glassman has been Creative Director of O, The Oprah Magazine since 2000, overseeing O’s style pages, all aspects of the magazine’s cover shoots and the highly anticipated O Favorite Things. Glassman has been fielding questions from O readers on a wide range of fashion topics since 2007 and was a pioneer in using real women for fashion shoots in the magazine. Glassman serves as a correspondent for EXTRA sharing his expertise, style and wit for millions of viewers, which earned him a Daytime Emmy Award in 2016. He appears regularly on Good Morning America, The View, and other national television shows.

Barbara Owens – Owens Interiors at Home
A native New Yorker, Barbara Owens moved to Texas and established her namesake business over 25 years ago. Her designs for both private and commercial spaces are steeped in Classicism with an elegant modern twist. With experience in both furniture and design, Barbara Owens has transformed properties throughout the United States and abroad. She has completed projects for international clientele in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, a 400 year old Palazzo in the rolling hills of Tuscany and a custom commercial office in China. Her expertise in design, style and trends was enlisted by a Fashion footwear Company as their Creative Director.

Cheminne Taylor-Smith – Cheminne.com
Cheminne Taylor-Smith is a creative thinker and idea generator who specializes in branding, strategy, licensing, relationship marketing, promotion, social media, and content creation. Known for her insight and straight talk, she’s helped home furnishings companies and solopreneurs take their brands to the next level and improve their businesses. She has unmatched experience in the home, media, retail, and design arenas, working with well-known brands like Elle Decor, High Point Market, Showtime cable network, Christie’s, Metropolitan Home, Conde Nast, Galerie Magazine, Bernhardt, Hudson Publishing, Dallas Market Center, and more. Cheminne has won many awards for her work, including EXCITE and Addy awards for marketing, and an international social media award, which she won as the architect of the Style Spotters/Pinterest program for High Point Market.

Sandy Hughes – Steelyard
Sandy Hughes is a partner and Chief Creative Officer at Steelyard, the trade-only online product resource that seamlessly connects interior designers in the residential, commercial, and contract realms with top design-centric brands. As CCO, she oversees site and editorial content, member engagement, brand messaging, and marketing. She researches and views thousands of Steelyard products every month, introducing new brands and products exclusively to design professionals. It is also Sandy’s priority to make Steelyard’s commitment to professional and product education continually relevant and important to the designers Steelyard serves and to help elevate the interior design trade at large.

Susan Inglis – Sustainable Furnishings Council
Susan Inglis, executive director of Sustainable Furnishings Council and founder of From the Mountain, has over 25 years of experience working with artisans and promoting sustainable manufacturing in the home furnishings, fashion, and gift industries. Under Inglis’ direction, SFC has gained national attention and brought the organization widespread recognition as the primary source for verified sustainable home furnishings. She received the 2009 WithIt WOW Award for Education. Inglis exclusively serves as the Green Award judge and reviews only the manufacturing finalists’ submissions.

Teddie Garrigan – Coco & Dash
Teddie Garrigan along with her daughter, Courtney, owns award-winning luxury home accents retail shop, Coco & Dash, located in Dallas, Texas. Based on a solid understanding of the business of retail and a clear vision for what shopping should be, Teddie and Courtney developed a concept that quickly became a favorite with interior designers and retail customers across the United States. In 2018 the pair launched Ciao, Coco!, a second retail concept that offers small home accessories and, coming soon, custom bedding. A new full-service interior design studio is opening in 2020. With a love of all things home, Teddie is known for her keen eye and a sense of style resulting from a lifetime of travel. A devout southerner who grew up living in Europe, she brings a relaxed and fun sophistication to Coco & Dash along with a modern sense of luxury that is fresh, stylish, and timeless.

Sponsors for the 31st annual ARTS Awards include Aspire Design and Home; Designers Today; D Home; enlightenment; Furniture, Lighting and Décor; Furniture Today; Gifts & Decorative Accessories; Home Accents Today; Home Furnishings Business; Home Furnishings News; Home Textiles Today; the Interior Design Society and the Sustainable Furnishings Council.

For more information visit the ARTS Awards website.

About the ARTS Awards
The ARTS Awards is the premier international awards program dedicated to the home industry. Up to 28 categories exist under the headings Manufacturer, Retailer, Product Designer, Interior Designer, Sales Representative, Green, and other specialty honors. Anyone in the industry can nominate including manufacturers, retailers, sales representatives, designers, suppliers, consultants, and other industry officials. Companies that have won an ARTS Award five times are inducted into the Hall of Fame. Current Hall of Fame members are: Arteriors Home, Beatriz Ball, Bella Casa, BJ’s Home Accents, C.S. Wo & Sons, Distinctive Designs International Inc., Elements at Home, Feizy Rugs, Fine Art Lamps, Global Views, HW Home, Loloi Rugs, Montaage, Natural Decorations Inc., Palecek, Paragon, Phillips Collection, Robb & Stucky, Schonbek Worldwide Lighting, Seasonal Living, and Vietri.