Sarasota County Heritage Awards 2027
The Sarasota Alliance for Historic Preservation (SAHP) will open nominations on October 1, 2026, for the 2027 Sarasota County Heritage Awards. SAHP aims to honor those contributing significantly to preserving and understanding Sarasota County's historical resources.
This year’s recipients will represent achievements in architecture, historic preservation, collections management, archaeological conservancy, student scholarship, and both organizational and individual accomplishments, including architects, designers, builders, and trades/craftsmen. The Heritage Awards honor those preserving our region's architectural, archaeological, and historical assets. The awards aim to educate the public on the importance of preservation and to boost support for preservation efforts for future generations.
Applications open October 1, 2026, and close December 1, 2026. Recipients will be notified by December 14, 2026. The Awards Ceremony will be in Spring 2027 — details to follow.
You can find the application form attached at the end of this article.
Heritage Award Categories 2027
Gregory A. and Eleana Najmy Hall Adaptive Use and Historic Preservation Awards: Recognizes top historic preservation projects in Sarasota County. Nominations are judged on successful rehabilitation, restoration, or adaptive use of a historic building and community impact. Projects must be completed within five years of the submission deadline and adhere to the Secretary of the Interior’s standards for historical rehabilitations.
Lillian Burns Individual Achievement: Awarded to an individual for significant contributions to Sarasota County's history and preservation. This includes research, publication, education, museology, organizational leadership, and advocacy. Nominations showcasing sustained excellence and high achievement are preferred.
Archaeological Conservancy: Recognizes outstanding efforts to preserve and document prehistoric sites and/or effective advocacy of archaeological conservation.
Historical Research: Awarded for outstanding contributions through research and publication to increase knowledge of Sarasota County’s past.
Organizational Achievement: Awarded to a Sarasota County historical or preservation organization for exceptional work in historical preservation, education, or research. Nominations are encouraged for organizations with impactful projects on Sarasota County’s history.
Historical Collections Preservation: Acknowledges exceptional efforts to preserve, describe, and ensure public access to Sarasota County's historical collections. This award honors individuals or organizations employing best practices in archival management.
Student Scholar: Recognizes outstanding student contributions to history, archaeology, or preservation, focusing on Sarasota County history through research papers, exhibits, websites, or documentaries.
Builders/Developers: Acknowledges those who integrate historic preservation into projects, balancing growth with respect for Sarasota County’s historic assets.
Architects/Designers: Honors architects and designers for significant contributions to preserving Sarasota’s historic environment, showcasing design excellence and sensitivity to historic context.
Skilled Trades & Craftsmen: Honors individuals and teams whose expertise in traditional trades has been crucial in preserving or restoring Sarasota County’s historic resources. This includes artisans like carpenters, masons, plasterers, ironworkers, and stained glass restorers, whose commitment to quality ensures historic structures are authentically maintained for future generations.
2027 SARASOTA COUNTY HERITAGE AWARDS
NOMINATION FORM
Please download this PDF and open it in Adobe Acrobat Reader (free) or Preview (Mac) before filling it out — many browsers’ built-in PDF viewers will not save your entries.
Please select the category that applies to your nominee:
☐ Historic Structure Preservation
☐ Historic Structure Adaptive Reuse
☐ Individual Achievement
☐ Historical Research
☐ Archaeological Conservancy
☐ Organizational Achievement
☐ Historic Collections Preservation
☐ Student Scholar
☐ Builders/Developers
☐ Architect/Designer
☐ Trades/Craftsmen
Name of Nominee:
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First Name | Last Name |
Phone Number
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Please enter a valid phone number. |
Address
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Street Address |
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Street Address Line 2 |
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City | State / Province |
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Postal / Zip Code |
Name of Nominator:
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First Name | Last Name |
Phone Number
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Please enter a valid phone number. |
Address
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Street Address |
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Street Address Line 2 |
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City | State / Province |
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Postal / Zip Code |
Nominators must provide:
• This application form may be completed online and submitted with back-up materials
• A maximum 800-word rationale of why the nominee deserves the award (see next page)
• The nominee’s resume/biography (please include all web links if applicable)
• Two letters of support
• No less than two images which depict the nominee and project. Images must be digital for publication.
If using your phone for photos, be sure that your settings are for the largest photo. You can leave it at 72 dpi. At that setting the photo should be extremely large (42” x 56” as an example — every photo will be different). Submitting your photos like this allows scaling down at a higher resolution.
• Please do not edit your photos. Every phone has different settings for photos — please adjust yours.
• Submit photos in .jpg or .png format.
• Please use original photos when possible — they will be used in the program and presentation materials.
How to Submit:
Save your completed form and email it, along with your photos and any supporting documents, to sahp.mailbox@gmail.com. If your files are large, feel free to send them across a couple of separate emails.
Any Questions — Reach out to us at sahp.mailbox@gmail.com
Please Explain Why Your Nominee Deserves an Award: *
800 Words Maximum
