In 1999, the National Association of Counties' Arts and Culture Commission partnered with the Americans for the Arts to promote arts activities in counties across the nation.
In honor of this partnership, the Americans for the Arts created the County Leadership in the Arts Award. This award is presented annually to the county official or county governing body that is determined to have showed outstanding support for the arts and arts activities.
A panel of judges from the Americans for the Arts determines the winner. The award is presented at the Arts Luncheon at NACo's Annual Conference each summer.