Since 1991, the Arkansas Arts Council (AAC) has honored Arkansas creatives for their outstanding contributions to the arts in The Natural State with the Governor’s Arts Awards.

Each year, the public is invited to submit nominations for individuals, groups and organizations. Nominees must be current Arkansas residents or Arkansas-based corporations or organizations. Outstanding artists, arts patrons, corporate sponsors, arts education coordinators and local leaders in arts development are all eligible but past award winners are not eligible for awards in a category they have already won.  The honorees in each of the seven categories are chosen by an independent panel of art professionals from across Arkansas.   

On March 13, AAC hosted a ceremony and luncheon to honor this year’s recipients of the Governor’s Arts Award. The honorees were:

• Michael Fothergill of Little Rock | Arts Community Development Award
• Corey Alderdice of Hot Springs | Arts in Education Award
• The Northwest Arkansas Mall | Corporate Sponsorship Award
• Kay Thomas of Mountain View | Folklife Award
• Sheila Holland Cotton of Little Rock | Individual Artist Award
• Al "Papa Rap" Lopez of Rogers | Judges Recognition Award
• The Charles A. Frueauff Foundation| The Patron Award

The Arkansas Arts Council, an agency of the Division of Arkansas Heritage, advances and empowers the arts by providing services and funding for programming that encourages and assists literary, performing and visual artists and arts organizations in achieving standards of professional excellence. The Arkansas Arts Council provides technical and financial assistance to Arkansas arts organizations and other providers of cultural and educational programs. This statewide programming and assistance ultimately provide cultural, educational and economic opportunities for the benefit of all Arkansans. Funding is provided by the National Endowment for the Arts and the State of Arkansas.

To learn more about the Governor’s Arts Awards, the individual categories, and how to submit future nominations, click here.