Doti Niedermayer’s face went a little red when she realized she was about to be presented with an Arts Champions award earlier this month.

Sitting at the annual gala that’s part of the Assembly of B.C. Arts Councils conference on May 1 in Richmond, Niedermayer was listening to the description of one award recipient when she slowly realized they were talking about her.

“I was actually totally shocked. I had no idea at all,” she said.

Niedermayer, who has served as executive director of the Whistler Arts Council (WAC) since 2002, was one of three recipients of the Arts Champions awards for 2010. The award is presented to individuals or organizations that have contributed to the development and promotion of the arts in their communities.

Jeanne Ross, project coordinator for the Assembly of B.C. Arts Councils, said Niedermayer, who used to serve on the assembly board, has “been on our radar for a while.” After she was nominated by Joan Richoz, WAC chair and assembly president, it was clear that Niedermayer should receive the award this year, Ross said.

In addition to her eight years of service with WAC, Niedermayer has worked in arts and culture in B.C. for more than 20 years.

“She knows everybody in the arts and culture scene in Vancouver and across the province,” Richoz said on Monday (May 17). “The work she’s done in Whistler has been amazing.”

Niedermayer said she usually attends the assembly’s annual conference and gala, and she’s watched as people who have made a “significant contribution” to the arts have been recognized with the Arts Champions awards since the award was first presented in 2005.

“There are so many people who do so much with nothing,” she said. “I’m not the only one that works hard.”

She said she could hardly believe it when her name was called, and at first she wondered if she had been working in the sector for long enough to be selected. She has since realized she’s been working in the arts world for a long time, too.

“It’s sort of like being a member of an honourable society,” she said of being chosen for the award.

Niedermayer said she loves her work and she’s passionate about the arts. To be recognized is “really special,” she said.

Before Niedermayer was hired at WAC, the organization was completely run by volunteers and many people were burned out, Richoz said.

“The Whistler Arts Council has moved forward in leaps and bounds since we hired her,” Richoz said. “She just came in here and everything changed immediately.”

Richoz cited recent accomplishments at WAC under Niedermayer’s direction, such as securing a $1 million annual budget last year and being selected to co-produce Whistler Live cultural programming during the 2010 Olympics and Paralympics. She also praised Niedermayer for her passion for the arts, and how she spends much of her non-work hours attending local cultural events.

Before being hired to head WAC, Niedermayer worked for the Vancouver Fringe Festival, the Greater Vancouver Alliance for Arts and Culture, the Kootenay Regional Arts Council and other organizations.