Call for Honors

The Honors Working Group has opened the Call for Honors nominations. Professional Members of the Association may make nominations for art therapists who will be awarded honors in 2023 for their outstanding contributions to the American Art Therapy Association (AATA), the profession of art therapy, art therapy education, and clinical work. All Professional Members are encouraged to look over the award categories and nominate the art therapist(s) who best fits the description(s). For details and applications, please review the awards below and click on the link to the application form. Keep in mind that all nominations must include the Official Nomination Form as well as the documents explained in each specific award's guidelines. 

ALL HONORS NOMINATIONS SHOULD INCLUDE: 
  • Official Honors Nomination Submission
  • All Supporting Documents (as described in the specific award guidelines below)

SUBMIT HONORS NOMINATIONS: All nomination packets should be submitted via the award portal.*
*With the exception of the supplemental material for the Jim Consoli Video/Film Award for those not using a link formatted for the Internet.

DEADLINE:  The 2023 Honors Awards deadline has passed. 

SPECIFIC HONORS AWARDS GUIDELINES



Distinguished Clinician Award:  This differs from the other awards in that the focus is on the nominee’s work with clients, rather than on service to the Association or contributions to the field of art therapy in general. The DCA is conferred upon Professional members of the Association for outstanding service in one of the following categories:

  • Adult Services
  • Adolescent Services
  • Child Services
  • Family Services
  • General Services
Distinguished Educator Award:  This is conferred on a Professional member of the Association in recognition of significant contributions to the education of professionals in the field of art therapy, specifically in the area of outstanding teaching and the development of innovative educational practices.

Distinguished Service Award:  This is conferred on a Professional member of the Association in recognition of significant contributions to the field of art therapy, specifically in the area of the Association’s internal development as well as its relationship with other organizations.

Jim Consoli Video/Film Award:  This is conferred on a member(s) of the Association in recognition of their contribution to the field of art therapy through the completion of a video/film of high quality that adds to the existing fund of knowledge about the profession.

Outstanding Applied Creative Practice Award:  The Outstanding Applied Creative Practice Award is a special award designated for an active member of the American Art Therapy Association whose contributions as an artist and art therapist (or student in a current art therapy program) have significantly influenced the art therapy profession. 

Rudolph Arnheim Award:  This is a special award designated for a non-member of the Association whose contributions have significantly impacted the art therapy profession as a whole.

Other Form:  This honors award may include, but is not confined to, recognition for long-term, productive involvement in the functions of the Association, outstanding achievements and/or contributions to the field of art therapy, including individuals who have advanced the profession in other parts of the globe. Outstanding therapists who have retired or are approaching retirement may be appropriate recipients. Posthumous awards may be included in this category. “Other Awards” are also meant to recognize meritorious contributions that may be unprecedented.
Honorary Life Member (HLM):  Additional opportunities will be announced later this year as the American Art Therapy Association continues to re-evaluate the current Honorary Life Member award and is in the process of creating a completely new Fellowship program.  More information will be published as it becomes available.