24th Annual St. Louis Arts Awards Set for 1/19

St. Louis' own star-studded cast of entertainers, community leaders and educators will take center stage at the 24th annual St. Louis Arts Awards ceremony set for 7 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 19, in the Khorassan Ballroom at the Chase Park Plaza.

Ben Nordstrom, who has starred in dramatic productions nationwide and is the winner of two Kevin Kline Awards for his work on St. Louis stages, will emcee the event. Other highlights will include special performances by renowned jazz vocalist Denise Thimes (also an honoree), actors Jim Butz and Anderson Matthews, and Brian Owens with members of the St. Louis Symphony Youth Orchestra.

In addition to Thimes, who will be recognized with the Excellence in the Arts award, the 2015 honorees include: Shakespeare Festival St. Louis, Excellence in the Arts; Jim McKelvey and Doug Auer, Third Degree Glass Factory, Arts Innovators; Jill McGuire, Regional Arts Commission, Lifetime Achievement in the Arts; Warner Baxter and Tom Voss, Ameren Corporation, Corporate Leadership in the Arts; Ken and Nancy Kranzberg, Excellence in Philanthropy; and Winifred Crock, Parkway Central High School, Art Educator of the Year.

"Art -- and support for the arts -- is happening all around us every day. From the stage to the classroom to the board room, one doesn't have to look far to find the incredible talent, exceptional creative work and the expansive and ongoing commitment to the arts that exists throughout our community," said Cynthia A. Prost, president of the Arts and Education Council. "We are incredibly fortunate to be able to honor these individuals for their unique talents, and continued and unwavering efforts to keep the arts alive and thriving."

Since 1992, the St. Louis Arts Awards has paid tribute to St. Louisans who achieve a legacy of artistic excellence, as well as the organizations and businesses that enrich the city's arts and cultural community. Proceeds from the event benefit the Arts and Education Council's annual giving campaign, which funds nearly 70 arts and arts education organizations throughout the 16-county, bi-state region.