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- Governor's Awards for the Arts
News about the Governors Awards for the Arts
The judges will meet in July to select the winners, and the announcement about the winners will be made in early August.
There were 365 individuals and organizations nominated for the Awards.
Thank you to the Area Coordinators who promoted the nominations in their areas of the state.
Bonnie Elosser, Wise
Mary Lawson, Richlands
Penelope Moseley, Hillsville
Betsy White, Abingdon
Johnson Bowles, Farmville
Michele Bergsma, Lawrenceville
Lynne Bjarnesen, Danville
Chris Jones, South Boston
Kelly Mattox, Lynchburg
Barbara Parker, Martinsville
Lee Chichester, Floyd
Kai Degner, Harrisonburg
Michael Dowell, Waynesboro
Judy Ison, Pulaski
Colleen Pendry, Lexington
Laura Rawlings, Roanoke
Cheryl Anne Colton, Alexandria
Ann Rodriguez, Annandale
Joanna Ormesher, Fairfax
Kym Crump, Front Royal
Jeffrey Stern, Purcellville
Kim Jebson, Culpeper
Dennis Lynch, Woodstock
Tracy Marlatt, Winchester
Susan Landess, Fredericksburg
Sally Lay, Manassas
Maggie Guggenheim, Charlottesville
Ethel Norris Haughton, Petersburg
Barbara Lovell, Irvington
Kim Moore, Mathews
Leigh Anne Chamber, Courtland
Joyce Holland, Nassawadox
Patricia Rublein, Hampton Roads
The purpose of such award programs is to bring the richness and diversity of the arts in Virginia to the attention of the general public and to state officials. Over 40 states have some type of Governor's Arts Awards. The Awards recognize lifetime achievement for the recipients, are a public demonstration of the Governor's commitment to arts and culture, and are an opportunity for celebration of the cultural life of a state.
Overview
Governor's Awards for the Arts have been presented three times in Virginia - in 1979 by Governor John Dalton, in 1985 by Governor Charles Robb, and in 2000 by Governor James Gilmore.
A blue ribbon panel of judges, selected by the Virginians for the Arts Foundation and the Virginia Commission for the Arts, will select 10 Award winners based upon the nomination materials.
The award categories will be individual artists, arts organizations, and arts patrons. The judges will be asked to have diversity among the Award winners in artistic discipline and region of the state.
The Awards will be presented by Governor Kaine in the Rotunda of the newly renovated State Capitol in September 2008. Each winner will receive a handcrafted object by a Virginia artist, such a glass bowl.
Volunteer regional coordinators from across the state will be encouraged to organize regional celebrations honoring the nominees from their areas.
In 2000 the nine Award winners were recognized on stage at the Carpenter Center for the Performing Arts in Richmond. Actress Patricia Neal was mistress of ceremonies. WHRO of Hampton Roads produced short videos about each winner that were shown during the ceremony. The ceremony included the presentation of the awards to each winner, acceptance speeches by the winners, the videos, and performances by Virginia musicians and dancers. In addition, there were regional celebrations in Abingdon, Loudoun County, Alexandria, Fredericksburg, Martinsville, Richmond, Charlottesville, Petersburg, Courtland, and Norfolk to honor all of the local nominees for the Awards. Dozens of volunteers helped to organize these events.
Sponsors
The 2008 Governor's Awards for the Arts are made possible through the generous support of Dominion, Exxon/Mobil, Norfolk Southern, Philip Morris USA, and Virginia Natural Gas.
Schedule
January 25, 2008 Nomination forms available
May 15, 2008 Deadline for nominations to be received
July 9, 2008 Meeting of the Judges to select the Award winners
August 1, 2008 Announcement of Award winners
September 17, 2008 Presentation of Awards at State Capitol
October-November, 2008 Regional celebrations to recognize area nominees
Contact Information
Statewide Coordinator:
June G. Britt
Post Office Box 1110
Forest, VA 24551
434-385-0600 Fax 434-385-1356
June@brittmarketing.com
1979 Governor's Arts Awards Recipients
- Dabney Stuart, poet and professor of English at Washington & Lee University
- Isaiah Jackson, conductor
- the Lynchburg Fine Arts Center
- Nell Blaine, painter
- Marian Van Landingham, founder of the Torpedo Factory Arts Center
- the Richmond Symphony
- the Virginia Opera
- the Barter Theatre
- Catherine Filene Shouse, founder of Wolf Trap Farm Park for the Performing Arts
- Leslie Cheek, Jr., director of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts
- Miller & Rhoads Department Store, supporter of the arts
- Thalhimer's Department Store, supporter of the arts
1985 Governor's Arts Awards Recipients
- Jewett Campbell, painter and educator
- Janette Carter and the Carter Family Fold
- the Chrysler Museum
- Sydney and Frances Lewis
- Dr. Undine Smith Moore, composer and educator
- Thea Musgrave, composer
- the Fairfax Symphony
- Peter Taylor, author
- CSX Corporation, supporter of the arts
- Norfolk Southern Corporation, supporter of the arts
2000 Governor's Arts Awards Recipients
- Galax Moose Lodge #733, sponsor of the Old Fiddlers Convention
- George Garrett, Charlottesville, novelist, essayist, poet, and teacher
- Dr. Nikki Giovanni, Christiansburg, poet and teacher
- Adolphus Hailstork, Virginia Beach, composer
- Philip Morris Family of Companies, patrons of the arts
- Theresa Pollak, Richmond, painter and founder of the VCU School of the Arts
- Daisy Portuondo, Wise, impresario and arts patron
- Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, Sweet Briar, artists retreat
- Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts, Vienna