Nominations are now open for the Governor’s Awards in the Arts

November 15 is nomination deadline for Governor’s Awards in the Arts

Arts South Dakota and the South Dakota Arts Council co-sponsor the Governor’s Awards in the Arts every two years to recognize individuals and businesses that have made a statewide impact through artistic excellence or outstanding support of the arts.

The Governor’s Awards in the Arts will be presented at Drifters Bar & Grille in Fort Pierre on February 10, 2021. Nominations may be made by an organization, institution or individual and must be received no later than November 15, 2020. Current employees and board members of South Dakotans for the Arts and the South Dakota Arts Council are not eligible for these awards.

For nomination forms and more information on making a nomination, go to www.artssouthdakota.org.

The 2019 Governor’s Awards in the Arts were presented to Curator Ashley Pourier and Executive Director Mary Maxon, The Heritage Center at Red Cloud Indian School, for Outstanding Support of the Arts by an Organization or Business; Dr. Ronald Reed for Outstanding Support of the Arts by an Individual; Dwayne “Chuck” Wilcox for Distinction in Creative Achievement; John F. Colson for Outstanding Service in Arts Education, and Shayna Clifford, Manager/Loan Officer for Lakota Federal Credit Union, Lakota Funds for Outstanding Support of the Arts to Native Nations with Lands in South Dakota.

The classifications for these lifetime achievement awards:

● Distinction in Creative Achievement: Nominees in this lifetime achievement category should be individual artists who have made significant contributions in any of the various arts disciplines.

● Outstanding Service in Arts Education: Nominees in this lifetime achievement category should be individuals who have made significant contributions to arts education as a teacher, mentor or catalyst.

● Outstanding Support of the Arts by an Individual: Nominees in this lifetime achievement category should be individuals who have made outstanding contributions in supporting and encouraging the arts with their time, talent or funding.

● Outstanding Support of the Arts by an Organization or Business: Nominees in this lifetime achievement category should be an organization, business or corporation that has demonstrated leadership in supporting and encouraging the arts through time, talent and funding, or by funding and presenting projects by South Dakota artists for public education and enjoyment.

● Outstanding Support of the Arts to Native Nations with Lands in South Dakota: This award will be given to an individual, organization or business from South Dakota that has made significant contributions through the arts to Native nations with lands in South Dakota. The recipient will have demonstrated strong arts traditions and revitalization in Native communities by promoting social justice and cultural understanding.