Wayside Theatre Receives Shining Star Honorable Mention

Wayside Theatre received the Shining Star Honorable Mention in Virginians for the Arts Awards Showcase Contributions of Arts Organizations to Building Communities

The Virginians for the Arts announced winners of its Arts Build Communities Awards. The awards recognize arts organizations that best demonstrate the ability to enhance the community, lift our spirits, and build a better quality of life. Says Virginians for the Arts President Peter Fields, "The awards showcase the ways the arts contribute to the overall quality of life in Virginia communities."

Wayside Theatre, Middletown received the Shining Star Honorable Mention. "We were honored and excited to have been nominated as an arts organization that has the ability to enhance our community, lift the spirits and better the quality of life in our region." stated Warner Crocker, Wayside Theatre's Artist Director. "The Arts are a vital part of our community's fabric and important to the economic structure of our community." Awards will be presented at the ArtWorks for Virginia Conference 2010 Luncheon on January 27, 2010, in Richmond, Virginia.

Eighty-two Virginia arts organizations were nominated for awards. Judges for the awards included Mrs. Willie Dell, Commissioner, Virginia Commission for the Arts; Mr. Peter Fields, President, Virginians for the Arts; Mr. Mark Flynn, Legislative Director, Virginia Municipal League, Richmond; Ms. Marjorie N. Grier, Director-Corporate Philanthropy, Dominion Resources, Inc., Richmond; Dr. Roderic A. Taylor, Member of the Board, Virginians for the Arts, Chesapeake; and Mr. J. Vaughan Webb, Commissioner, Virginia Commission for the Arts, Ferrum. Ms. Beth Temple, Alexandria, served as a judge and chaired the judge's panel. She serves as Chair of The Virginians for the Arts Awards Committee.

"There are many arts organizations all across Virginia that are doing outstanding work in enriching the lives of their home communities. These organizations are anchors for downtown and neighborhood revitalization. Performances, festivals, and art exhibitions bring people together for shared experiences, which build cohesion within communities and create a sense of civic pride. Arts organizations employ people and make purchases from local businesses, adding to economic vitality. The new Arts Build Communities Awards bring a spotlight to the role of arts organizations in building strong communities," says Peggy Baggett, Executive Director, Virginia Commission for the Arts.

Virginians for the Arts works to build awareness of the importance of the efforts of Virginia's state arts agency, the Virginia Commission for the Arts. In 2009, the agency provided grants for operating support for more than 200 arts organizations throughout the state and more than 1,000 other types of grants that benefit teachers, students, local government, artists and the communities they serve. The Virginia Commission for the Arts is the only entity in the state concerned about developing the arts industry as a whole and about making the arts available in all parts of The Commonwealth. In 2008, the Commission helped to make possible 39,943 arts events attended by more than 7.7 million people, including 1.9 million school children.

As of October 2009, Virginia's arts agency was funded at 51 cents per capita, the lowest level of any state arts agency of its neighboring states: including (July 2009 figures) North Carolina at $1.18 cents, Maryland at $2.52, Kentucky at $.84, and West Virginia at $1.54.