Nominations Open for 2014 Governor's Arts Awards

Nominations are now open for the 2014 Governor's Arts Awards, which will be presented in six categories to individuals and businesses who have made substantial and outstanding contributions to arts and culture in Arizona.

Winners will be announced at the 2014 Governor's Arts Awards event on March 25 at The Mesa Arts Center, 1 E. Main St. in Mesa. The Governor's Arts Awards are presented by Arizona Citizens for the Arts in partnership with the Arizona Commission on the Arts and the Office of the Governor.

Nominations must be completed online by 5 p.m., December 6, 2013. To complete a nomination application, go to www.governorsartsawards.org.

Since 1981, 158 artists, individuals, arts and cultural organizations, educators and businesses have received Governor's Arts Awards

Categories are:

• Artist: Recognizing a living Arizona artist of significant merit, leadership or renown whose creations or contributions enrich the state and the field of the arts. This category is open to artists of all disciplines.

• Individual: Recognizing an individual for significant contributions to the arts in Arizona in arts leadership, support and/or volunteerism.

• Community: Recognizing a community organization or institution that has demonstrated significant support of or participation in community-based programs or services fostering excellence in, appreciation of, or access to the arts in Arizona. Schools or school districts are not eligible in this category.

• Arts In Education Organization: Recognizing a nonprofit arts organization or school that has demonstrated significant support or participation in activities which foster excellence in, appreciation of, or access to arts education in Arizona.

• Arts In Education Individual: Recognizing educators, teaching artists, school administrators or school volunteers who have demonstrated significant support or participation in activities fostering excellence in, appreciation of, or access to arts education in Arizona.

• Business: Recognizing small to large businesses demonstrating significant support through time, energy and/or financial support or by participation in activities which foster excellence in, appreciation of, or access to the arts throughout the state.

Honorees will be selected by an independent panel of judges. Nominees must be living residents of Arizona, a business operating in and for the benefit of Arizona, a school or a community organization. Business, arts organizations or school honorees that have won the award may be nominated again if at least five years have passed since receiving the award. Previous individual Governor's Arts Awards recipients in any category are not eligible.

The ninth annual Shelley Award also will be presented to an Arizona individual who has advanced the arts through strategic and innovative work in creating or supporting public policy beneficial to the arts in Arizona. The award is named for Shelley Cohn, who spent more than 25 years as executive director of the Arizona Commission on the Arts.

Arizona Citizens for the Arts: Arizona Citizens for the Arts is the premier arts advocacy organization in Arizona promoting discussion, awareness and support for the importance and impact of the arts in achieving quality of life, educational excellence and economic vitality in all Arizona communities. For information visit www.azcitizensforthearts.org

Arizona Commission on the Arts: The Arizona Commission on the Arts is the state agency that connects artists and communities. The Commission features many diverse programs and services for Arizona residents. For information visit www.azarts.gov.

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