Artist of the year was a concept first initiated in 2005 to honor an artist for his or her contribution to the artistic community and support of Chaffey Community Museum of Art. The honorees include Milford Zornes, John Svenson, Martha Underwood, Andree Mahoney, Bob Smith, Betty Davenport Ford, Sam Maloof, Harrison McIntosh, Sylvia Megerdichian, JoAnn Formia, Jan Wright and Dee Marcellus Cole.