ISPA 2025 Award Recipients Announced

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The International Society for the Performing Arts (ISPA) Board of Directors, together with the host of the 2025 Lugano Congress, Lugano Arte e Cultura, is pleased to announce the recipients of the ISPA 2025 Lugano Awards. The first ISPA Award was presented in 1975 to Beverly Sills. Since then, ISPA has continued to recognize outstanding individuals for their contributions to the performing arts and their communities. The following ISPA Awards will be presented:

Distinguished Artist Award Recipient presented to Łukasz Twarkowski, and to Cindy Van Acker 

Presented to artists who have made an outstanding contribution of talent, artistry, dedication, and service to the world of the performing arts. The contributions of these award recipients have gone above and beyond their prowess as artists.

International Citation of Merit Recipient to Michael Haefliger

Presented for unique lifetime achievement which has enriched the international performing arts. This Award is not for performance but rather for distinguished service working within the profession.

Angel Award presented to Claus Christiansen, The Danish Research Foundation, and to Kevin, Rosemary, and Hannah Rose McNeely, KHR McNeely Family Foundation

Presented to an individual or organization which has demonstrated a significant and lasting contribution to the support of the performing arts which transcends the boundaries of one country or institution, and merits international recognition.

ISPA CEO, David Baile, commented that “The 2025 Lugano award recipients embody the spirt of the awards in that each of the individuals honored has made significant contributions to the region while having a truly global reach.” The awards will be presented during a ceremony at the ISPA 2025 Lugano Congress: Art and Social Political Change, on Thursday, June 12, 2025. The ceremony will be hosted at Lugano Arte e Cultura in Lugano, Switzerland.