First Lady Judge Rendell Announces Governor's Arts Awards Honorees
Nov. 30 Awards Ceremony Slated for Kimmel Center's Perelman Theater
HARRISBURG, Pa., Sept. 23 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- First Lady Judge Marjorie O. Rendell today announced the recipients of the prestigious Governor's Awards for the Arts, which will be presented on Nov. 30 in Philadelphia.
The annual awards are a 30-year gubernatorial tradition honoring outstanding Pennsylvania artists, arts organizations and patrons who have made significant contributions to the advancement of the arts.
"Each of these honorees has made indelible contributions to the vitality of the arts in their communities over decades," said First Lady Rendell. "They exemplify the commitment of Pennsylvania's artists, arts organizations and arts patrons to beauty, creativity, and the value of the arts to the future of Pennsylvania."
The honorees were selected from a field of more than 70 nominations submitted by arts organizations, artists, arts patrons, elected officials and the public.
Governor Rendell will present the awards at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 30, at the Kimmel Center's Perelman Theater to the following recipients:
- Distinguished Arts Award – Charles Dutoit, chief conductor of The Philadelphia Orchestra;
- Pennsylvania Creative Community Award – cultural leader John Vanco of Erie, director of the Erie Art Museum;
- Patron Award – Carole Price Shanis and Joseph Shanis of Philadelphia;
- Artist of the Year – Moe A. Brooker of Philadelphia, visual artist and teacher; and
- Outstanding Arts Leadership & Service to Youth Award – ArtsQuest, Bethlehem arts organization that began as a downtown music festival in 1984.
The awards ceremony in November will be free. Tickets will be available starting October 15.
The ceremony moves to a different community each year to enable more citizens to share in this celebration of the arts. Past host cities have included York, Greensburg, Wilkes-Barre, Reading, Pittsburgh, Allentown, Harrisburg, Altoona, Philadelphia, Gettysburg, and Williamsport. Philadelphia's ceremony will mark the 30th anniversary of the first presentation of the awards in 1980 and will gather past recipients to celebrate the event's prestigious history.
The Governor's Awards for the Arts are administered by the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, a state agency under the Office of the Governor that works to foster the excellence, diversity and vitality of the arts in Pennsylvania, and to broaden the availability and appreciation of the arts throughout the state.
For additional information on the honorees, visit: http://pacouncilonthearts.org/2010bios.cfm
Media contacts:
Heather Doughty or Philip Horn, PA Council on the Arts; 717-787-1517 or 717-512-8730 (cell, evening of announcement)
Mia DeVane, Governor’s Office; 717-783-1116
SOURCE Pennsylvania Office of the Governor
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