Dallas Market Center Announces The HEARTS Awards Program
Furniture World News Desk on
5/27/2020
Dallas Market Center and ART, the creative home furnishings network, have announced the creation of The HEARTS Awards, a one-time special event to take place during the January Total Home & Gift Market in Dallas. The HEARTS Awards will take the place of the annual ARTS Awards, which will return for 2021-2022.
The HEARTS Awards, to be hosted by Carson Kressley and Thom Filicia, will be held in partnership with thirteen leading industry organizations and will honor thirteen individuals or companies that have shown outstanding leadership, empathy and service during the COVID-19 pandemic by going above and beyond in service to their industry and/or community. A fundraising effort supporting hunger relief by leveraging the creative skills of 100 celebrities and influencers will accompany the awards.
“For more than 30 years the ARTS Awards have been the premier program honoring business and creative excellence; but given the global pandemic we have a unique opportunity this year to unite our industry to honor generosity and selflessness via The HEARTS Awards,” said Sharon Davis, executive director of ART.
“In the midst of a crisis we have seen remarkable help and sacrifice from our professional community,” said Cindy Morris, president and CEO of Dallas Market Center. “That’s why this year we will honor heart-based leadership with a program recognizing the best qualities of our industry and working in collaboration with leading organizations.”
The following organizations have agreed to participate and to each put forward one honoree meeting The HEARTS Awards criteria:
- American Home Furnishings Hall of Fame
- American Home Furnishings Alliance
- American Lighting Association
- ART, the creative home furnishings network
- Gift & Home Trade Association
- Gift for Life
- Interior Design Society
- International Casual Furnishings Association
- International Home Furnishings Representative Association
- International Society of Furniture Designers
- International Textile Alliance
- Sustainable Furnishings Council
- WithIt, the women’s leadership development network for the home and furnishings industry
In addition to the awards, a special fundraising campaign will take place benefitting hunger relief. One hundred artists, designers, celebrities, influencers and special guests will creatively design one-of-a-kind dinner plates to be auctioned to the highest bidder. The auction will begin online ahead of The HEARTS Awards and will conclude on the evening of the event.
The HEARTS Awards will take place on January 8, 2021 at the Hilton Anatole hotel. Individual and group tickets will be available at a later date. The full list of honorees will be announced the first week of October.
Media sponsors to date include: Aspire Design and Home, Designers Today, Furniture Lighting & Décor, Furniture/Today, Gifts & Decorative Accessories, Home Accents Today, HFN, and Home Textiles Today.
About ART: ART is the creative home furnishings network representing manufacturers, retailers, representatives and other individuals and companies interested in promoting and enhancing the market position of the home furnishings industry. Each year ART sponsors programs such as the ART conference, regional educational seminars, the ART card, and the ARTS Awards. The ART website is available at www.accessoriesresourceteam.org.
About Dallas Market Center: Dallas Market Center is a global business-to-business trade center and the leading wholesale marketplace in North America connecting retailers and interior designers with top manufacturers in home décor, furniture, gifts, lighting and fashion for women, men, and children. Inside its dynamic, five million square foot campus near downtown Dallas, nearly 200,000 customers from all 50 states and 85 countries seek industry trends, business education and new products via open-daily showrooms and from exhibitors participating in trade events held throughout the year. The Dallas Market Center website is available at dallasmarketcenter.com.