Nashville Arts Coalition established the Steine Leadership in the Arts Award in 2015 to honor Ronnie Steine for his decades of service to the arts in Nashville, as a private citizen and as a member of the Metropolitan Council of Nashville and Davidson County.

The award acknowledges the commitment of a citizen or elected official to supporting arts funding as a major economic driver of Nashville's vitality. 

The award is a handmade sculpture by artist Brenda Stein (no relation to Mr. Steine). 

Past honorees:
2015 Ronnie Steine
2016 Bill Pridemore

On February 9, 2018 at a breakfast reception at Nashville Ballet, Nashville Arts Coalition presented the 2017 Steine Public Leadership in the Arts Award to the Honorable Nancy VanReece. 

Additionally, NAC awarded a second Steine Award for Public Leadership in Arts to Jennifer Cole, for her years of service as Director of the Metro Arts Commission.