Terry Goddard

Tucson artist, educator and founder/director of the Global Art Project, Katherine Josten, was named the 2017 Governor's Arts Awards Artist of the Year at the 36th annual Governor's Arts Awards dinner and celebration at the Phoenician Resort.

Artwork by Chrysanthe Kapuranis, a graphic designer in the Division of Human Resources at the University of Arizona who holds a Bachelor's Degree in Design Science from Arizona State University, will be exhibited on the cover of the 2017 Governor's Arts Awards program book, and has been used for invitations to the event.

Eight Arizona artists representing a range of mediums from Flagstaff, Gold Canyon, the Hopi reservation, Phoenix, Prescott and Tucson will provide awards for recipients of 2017 Governor's Arts Awards.

Ten Pioneers of Advocacy from across the state will be honored with Shelley Awards for their dedicated work on behalf of arts and culture during the formative years of arts advocacy in Arizona that helped create the vibrant arts and culture environment we enjoy today, and in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Arizona Commission on the Arts.

Friends and colleagues including Bruce Vilanch, Valarie Pettiford, Rachel York, Rita McKenzie, Carole Cook, Thom Troupe, Kathryn Jootsen, Lily Tomlin, Florence Henderson, Donna Mills, Jackie Joseph, Channing Chase, Tippi Hedren, JoAnne Worley, Kate Linder and the Los Angeles cast of RENT among others were more than thrilled to turn out for this special engagement of 'The First 80 Years are the Hardest,' that marked Carol Channing's return to the stage after her accident last year that forced her, for the very first time in her 70 year career, to cancel all scheduled performances.

LA's big TONY bash was hosted by Jason Alexander, and featured Henry Winkler presenting the Julie Harris Award for Lifetime Achievement is presented to James Earl Jones as Hollywood's theatrical community gathered to watch the TONYs.