Spotlighting Those Who, Through Arts, Culture and Empowerment, Have Made a Distinctive Mark
Making Their Mark: The 2026 Honorees
On Tuesday, June 16, 2026, the Cultural Alliance of Fairfield County welcomed supporters of the Arts and Culture community to The Meadowlands at the Darien Community Association for the inaugural MARK Awards, a reimagining of the Alliance's long-standing ACE Awards. The evening served as both a celebration of enduring impact and a shared commitment to ensuring that Fairfield County's creative community continues to thrive for years to come.
"I am very excited to celebrate the achievements of our winners, who have all left an indelible mark on the community. Each Mark Award winner is a vital member of our community, helping Fairfield County to be a vital place to live and visit.” - Douglas Laustsen, CAFC Executive Director
Thank you for being part of the 2026 Mark Awards. These moments capture just one example of the creativity, collaboration, and generosity that define Fairfield County's cultural community. The celebration may be over, but the work continues, and so does our shared commitment to supporting the arts and the people who make them possible.
Event Program
Our Honorees
Aisha Nailah is a multidisciplinary artist whose abstract works translate intuition, ancestry, and lived experience into vivid visual language that evoke memory, movement, and spiritual presence. Her impact is most tangible in the communities she actively shapes: through public murals, teaching and art therapy-informed education, and curatorial work, she builds spaces where art becomes a tool for reflection, healing, and cultural affirmation.
The mission of the Ballet School of Stamford is to foster the Art of Dance by offering excellent dance training to all levels of students while promoting and encouraging cultural diversity in ballet training and performance. To present high quality performances to our local community to develop an awareness in the business community of the value of a disciplined dance education.
Laurence Caso has shaped The Klein into a continuously active cultural hub by pairing high-level industry experience with sustained local investment. Under his leadership, The Klein not only increased access to performances but established a robust arts education program that directly engages young people and families, embedding the arts into the community’s daily life. His own productions reflect a commitment to culturally resonant storytelling and building a locally rooted institution that creates consistent opportunity, visibility, and artistic engagement for those it serves.
VersoFest is part of a larger effort to expand the role of the public library, creating space for music, media, and cultural dialogue alongside traditional learning. It’s intentional work, it’s community-driven, and it’s gratifying to see it recognized.
Event Committee
Pam Robey ● Jen Wastrom ● Holly Hotchner ● Ann Lydecker ● Cindy Vaccaro ● Liz Spears
SPONSORS
