23 January 2018 Governor’s Awards for the Arts Winners Announced January 23, 2018 artists, Educators, Engage, For Artists, For Educators, For Organizations, For the Public, Governor's Awards, News, Public, Special Events 2018, Akron, Butler County, Center for Arts-Inspired Learning, Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, David Poe Mitzel, Dayton, Dayton Contemporary Dance Company, Franklin County, Gahanna, Governor's Awards, Heartland Bank, Howard Parr, J.M. Smucker County, Montgomery County, Muskingum County, Ohio Arts Council, Orrville, Oxford, Ricardo Averbach, Sierra Leone, Springboro, Stuart and Mimi Rose, Summit County, Warren County, Wayne County, Zanesville 0 Nine winners have been selected to receive awards at the 2018 Arts Day & Governor’s Awards for the Arts in Ohio luncheon and ceremony on Wednesday, May 16, 2018 at noon at the Columbus Athenaeum in downtown Columbus. The 2018 award recipients and categories, including city, county, biographies, and additional information follow: ARTS ADMINISTRATION Howard Parr, executive director of the Akron Civic Theatre Akron (Summit) ARTS EDUCATION Center for Arts-Inspired Learning Cleveland (Cuyahoga) ARTS PATRON Stuart and Mimi Rose Springboro (Warren) BUSINESS SUPPORT OF THE ARTS (SMALL) Heartland Bank Gahanna (Franklin) BUSINESS SUPPORT OF THE ARTS (LARGE) The J.M. Smucker Company Orrville (Wayne) COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT & PARTICIPATION (co-winners) Sierra Leone, president and artistic director of OFP Theatre Company Dayton (Montgomery) David Poe Mitzel, Ph.D., founder of Appalachian Hills of Ohio Territory (AHOOT) Zanesville (Muskingum) INDIVIDUAL ARTIST Ricardo Averbach, DMA, director of orchestral studies at Miami University Oxford (Butler) IRMA LAZARUS AWARD Dayton Contemporary Dance Company Dayton (Montgomery) Learn more about this year's winners here. The Governor's Awards Selection Committee, comprised of six Ohio Arts Council (OAC) board members and three members selected by the Ohio Citizens for the Arts (OCA) Foundation, recommended winners after reviewing nominations submitted by individuals and organizations across Ohio. "The 2018 Governor’s Awards winners are true innovators and leaders in their communities. They exemplify Ohio’s creative and forward-thinking spirit," said OAC Executive Director Donna S. Collins. "On behalf of the Ohio Arts Council, I congratulate this year’s group of individuals, organizations, and businesses on earning our state’s most prestigious artistic and cultural achievement.” Winners will receive an original work of art by Ohio artist Carol Stewart. The Governor’s Awards luncheon is held in conjunction with Arts Day, an annual arts advocacy event sponsored by the Ohio Citizens for the Arts Foundation. ABOUT THE GOVERNOR’S AWARDS FOR THE ARTS IN OHIO Since its beginning in 1971, the Governor’s Awards for the Arts in Ohio has recognized individuals and organizations who have been vital to the growth and development of Ohio’s cultural resources. Each year, the public is invited to nominate individuals and organizations in eight award categories. The program is presented by the Ohio Arts Council and the Ohio Citizens for the Arts Foundation, a nonprofit arts organization. ABOUT THE OHIO ARTS COUNCIL The Ohio Arts Council is a state agency that funds and supports quality arts experiences to strengthen Ohio communities culturally, educationally, and economically. Connect with the OAC on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, or visit our website at oac.ohio.gov. ABOUT THE OHIO CITIZENS FOR THE ARTS FOUNDATION The Ohio Citizens for the Arts Foundation, formed in 1990 as a companion organization to Ohio Citizens for the Arts, leverages support for the arts and arts education. For more information about the foundation, visit ohiocitizensforthearts.org/about-oca-foundation. ### Article by Amanda Etchison, Communications Strategist Photo: Design by Alan Jazak, Artwork: "Marigold" by Carol Stewart Comments are closed.