The 2015 Congressional Arts Leadership Award was presented to Senator Tom Udall (D-NM). The award, which recognizes distinguished service on behalf of the arts, is part of a series of Public Leadership in the Arts Awards given annually by Americans for the Arts and The United States Conference of Mayors.

New Mexico has the highest number of artists per capita of any state, and as a result, Sen. Udall has been tirelessly working on legislation that would provide specific support to artists and creative entrepreneurs.

A member of the Senate Cultural Caucus, Sen. Udall is currently serving his second term in the U.S. Senate. For the past 5 years, he has lead the Senate Dear Colleague letter in support of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), and this year he became the senior Democrat on the Appropriations Subcommittee overseeing NEA and the National Endowment for the Humanities funding.

The senator’s nomination for this award was also supported by New Mexico state leader Loie Fecteau, who serves as the Executive Director of New Mexico Arts—the state arts agency and division of the Department of Cultural Affairs.