ArtsWorcester has announced that Lora Brueck, artist, librarian, archivist, and volunteer, will be the recipient of the 41st ArtsWorcester Award. The ArtsWorcester Award is given annually to an individual who has made extraordinary contributions to arts and culture in this city. Its recipient list serves as a history of arts leadership in Worcester.

Lora Brueck’s artistic career began with photography over forty years ago, and in 1995, she began to make artist books that integrated her photographs with collage, printing, and sewing with a refined standard of craftsmanship. Throughout her practice, Brueck has collaborated with members of the legendary women’s artist group Art XII, the Boston Book Arts Group, the Sunday Photography Group, and F8.

Brueck worked as a librarian at the Gordon Library of Worcester Polytechnic Institute, and served as WPI’s first official archivist. She opened the library’s exhibition spaces to Worcester-area artists, offering them a much-needed space to show their work, while ensuring a vibrant arts presence at an engineering school. She was a graduate of Bartlett Jr. Senior High School.

Unsung, often invisible volunteer effort is the backbone of small arts organizations. At ArtsWorcester, Brueck was an exhibitions committee member and board member for decades, selecting, installing, and hosting exhibitions. As one of the early organizers of stART on the Street, Brueck brought steady calm, financial expertise, governance, and community connections. More recently, she has volunteered for the last five years at the Worcester Historical Museum, digitizing photographs for their special collections.

“Lora is a talented artist and a digital humanities pioneer, and this award recognizes both those qualities,” says Juliet Feibel, Executive Director. “But it comes with particular gratitude for the decades of unassuming, effective volunteer labor she has given this city’s arts organizations--and the wry wit she brought with it.”

The award will be given at ArtsWorcester’s Season Kickoff, Wednesday, September 20, at 5 p.m. at the Printers Building, followed by the public reception for Material Needs 2023. This event is open to the public; please register in advance through Eventbrite.